New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that infants who nap less frequently may have smaller vocabularies and poorer child brain development
The findings challenge conventional beliefs about the relationship between sleep patterns and cognitive abilities in young children.
A recent study by the University of East Anglia sheds light on the relationship between nap frequency and child brain development.
The research surveyed 463 infants between eight months and three years during the 2020 lockdown and found that infants who nap less frequently tend to have smaller vocabularies and weaker cognitive function.
On the other hand, children with more frequent naps than expected for their age displayed better cognitive abilities.
The finding reflects a previous study on how naptime is able to boost literacy skills in children.
Nap impact on child brain development
Lead researcher Dr Teodora Gliga emphasised that reducing naps for children with smaller vocabularies and lower executive function scores would not improve brain development.
The study indicates that nap duration is a critical indicator of cognitive development in infants. Those with more frequent but shorter naps had poorer vocabularies and cognitive skills, especially in older children.
COVID-19 lockdown provides insight into child cognitive health
The researchers utilised the unique circumstances of the lockdown to study children’s intrinsic sleep needs. With nurseries closed, children experienced fewer disturbances to their natural sleep patterns.
The study showed that daytime sleep structure directly relates to cognitive development, highlighting the importance of appropriate napping for children’s mental growth.
Taking diverse sleep needs into account
Dr Gliga emphasised that children have varying sleep needs and that some may naturally drop naps earlier due to efficient information consolidation during sleep. Conversely, other children may still require naps past the age of three. The findings challenge previous notions that caregivers should encourage frequent naps in all preschool-aged children.
Socio-economic factors and sleep
Interestingly, the study observed that children from lower socio-economic backgrounds were likelier to experience worsened sleep during the lockdown.
However, increased screen time and decreased outdoor activities did not entirely explain the differences in sleep patterns. The researchers call for caregivers to consider a child’s mental age, rather than chronological age, when determining their sleep needs.
The research was collaborative among the University of East Anglia, the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, the University of Leeds, and the University of Warwick, with funding support from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
These findings provide valuable insights into child brain development and how napping is crucial in cognitive skills.
