Tired toddlers ‘at risk of lifelong mental health problems’

January 4th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:59 PM on 4th January 2012

Nap time: Toddlers need to sleep during the day to help them cope with the stresses of daily life

Toddlers who miss out on afternoon naps are more stressed, unhappy and at greater risk of lifelong mental health problems, new research claims.

Findings reveal that young kids who miss just one daytime nap become more anxious and less interested in the world around them. They were also less excited by happy events and found the slightest stressful event hard to cope with.

U.S. researchers say this is because missing naps ‘taxes the way toddlers express different feelings.’

And long-term sleep deprivation could even lead to ‘lifelong, mood-related problems,’ they warn.

The team, from the University of Colorado Boulder measured the sleep patterns of toddlers aged two to three. Kids wore a special device which measured how much they slept, with their parents also keeping a sleep log.

Study author Professor Monique LeBourgeois filmed the toddlers’ facial expressions as they completed two jigsaws on one day where they’d had their usual nap, and on another when they’d been deprived of it.

Results, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, showed that tired toddlers who successfully completed the first puzzle were a third (34 per cent) less positive in their emotional responses than when they’d been well-rested.

And on being given another deliberately unsolveable puzzle the team noticed tired toddlers were a third more stressed by it than when they’d enjoyed their usual nap.

Toddlers who had missed out on a nap were also more than a third (39 per cent) less curious about the unsolveable puzzle than when they were well rested.

Prof LeBourgeois warned that ‘Confusion is not bad,’ adding that it was necessary to help kids learn from their mistakes.

But he said: ‘A sleepy child in a classroom or
nursery environment may not be able to engage with others and benefit
from positive interactions.’

He added: ‘This study shows insufficient sleep in the form of missing a nap taxes the way toddlers express different feelings, and, over time, may shape their developing emotional brains and put them at risk for lifelong, mood-related problems.

‘Just like good nutrition, adequate sleep is a basic need.’

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Oh and to add to my last comment, my son is happy and not a moody moo. Hes a healthy thriving loving toddler. Again… your article and ‘research’ is c*@p!!! Plus I was a very well behaved baby/toddler and slept perfect… Ive had depression since I was 12, just another thing to prove you wrong 😉

– Tiff, gloomland, 04/1/2012 17:24

I absolutely agree that sleep is SOO important!! My 18 month old son is such a good sleeper!! He wasn’t a good napper when he was around 3-6 months, but I read the book “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby” and became stricter about a routine and it worked! The clue to getting a baby to nap well is to put them to bed earlier at night!! And don’t give up after one try – it can take a while!!
Now he goes down around 7pm and gets up around 7:30am, then has a 2-3 hr nap from around 1-4pm (although at daycare he sometimes doesn’t nap and we don’t know why! If that happens he goes to bed at 6:30pm instead).

– Jen, at home, 04/1/2012 17:18

Another new research shows…

– zara, uk, 04/1/2012 17:04

My mother told me years ago to set a sleep schedule and stick to it. I did with both my children, now grown.My daughter has no schedule for my granddaughter who has never taken naps and is now 3. Her napping interferes with their being on the go. Parents need to realize children need their sleep.

– thetruth, Telluride, CO, 04/1/2012 16:58

Perhaps there is some truth to this. My mum (who had 6 children) tells me I was the worst baby she ever had as I literally never slept I would just scream and cry and I have had severe mental health problems since my teens.

– ML, Lancashire, 04/1/2012 16:51

Why are scientists being paid to do these ‘researches’? All children are different, and any mum who’s child has naps will know that they become ratty if they have missed out on one. If my sons misses his, then I just put him to bed an hour earlier and he will still wake up at the usual time.

– ellie, uk, 04/1/2012 16:49

My 3yr old twins still have daily naps of approx 1 hour. They also sleep 11 hours a night and are the happiest, healthiest duo you could ever wish to meet! I completely agree that sleep is essential for toddlers and those parents who insist their children grow up too quickly and withdraw daytime napping are making a rod for their own backs.

– Twin Mother, Berkshire, 04/1/2012 16:31

Sorry, in my last entry about the gina ford routine I got my a.m’s and p.m’s mixed up!

– cathy, ireland, 04/1/2012 16:27

Fiona and Cathy – you just wait till they turn 2yrs then you’ll know all about it!

– Kat, Essex, 04/1/2012 16:17

Thanks ! My toddler was a dream “napper” at the age your little one is now (she’s 2 in 3 weeks) but at about 18/19 months the naps started to get later and later till we’re now at the point where she doesn’t have one because it’s too close to bedtime.

– fiona, south , 04/1/2012 16:15

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