Background media exposure prolongs nighttime sleep latency in Thai infants.

BACKGROUND: Less is known about the effect of screen time and sleep at a younger age on current sleep outcome in infants. Therefore, we examined whether sleep parameter at a younger age and daily exposure of electronic media could predict sleep outcomes in 12-mo-old Thai infants. METHODS: There were 208 typically developing infants enrolled since 6 mo old. Each main caregiver completed a sleep questionnaire and was interviewed for the infant's screen exposure at 6 and 12 mo of age. Nighttime sleep latency and sleep duration were calculated. Electronic media and sleep outcomes were analyzed using multiple linear regressions and path analysis. RESULTS: Longer sleep latency at age 12 mo was predicted by longer daily duration of media exposure and longer 6-mo-old sleep latency. Infants who were exposed to electronic media above the median at both ages had longer 12-mo-old nighttime sleep latency compared with those who were exposed to the screen below the median at both ages. CONCLUSION: Six-month-old nighttime sleep latency and 12-mo-old electronic media exposure could predict 12-mo-old nighttime sleep latency. Relative changes in media exposure over time can provide a better prediction of nighttime sleep latency in Thai infants than screen exposure at either time point.

Elevated background TV exposure over time increases behavioural scores of 18-month-old toddlers.

AIM: To investigate whether trends of TV exposure from age six to 18 months and adult TV programmes were associated with behavioural concerns of 18-month-old Thai toddlers. METHODS: There were 194 healthy infants recruited at age six months and followed up until 18 months of age in this present cohort. TV exposure variables were assessed by interviewing in depth at both six- and 18-month-old visits. A mother of each participant rated the child's behaviours using the Child Behaviour Checklist. RESULTS: Infants who were increasingly exposed to TV from age six to 18 months with adult programmes since six months of age had higher pervasive developmental problems and oppositional defiant behaviours scores. Exposure to adult TV programmes at age six months was also associated with emotionally reactive problems, aggression and externalising behaviours in the final regression models. CONCLUSION: To promote appropriate toddlers' behaviours at age 18 months, elevated background TV exposure over time should be discouraged. Furthermore, paediatricians should emphasise such effects of TV exposure on child behaviours with parents at health supervision visits. As such, parents will be aware of the detrimental effect of increased background TV exposure over time on their children's behaviours.

Evening media exposure reduces night-time sleep.

AIM: To investigate whether evening media exposure, bedroom media use and night-time sleep duration at age 6 months are associated with night-time sleep duration in 12-month-old Thai infants. METHODS: We enrolled 208 infants in this study at 6 months of age. They were followed-up at 12 months of age. A sleep diary was used to document the infant's sleep onset and wake time at each visit. Night-time sleep duration was then calculated at both ages. Screen media exposure in the household was assessed in depth at both visits. RESULTS: Infants who were exposed to screen media in the evening at 12 months of age had a 28-min decrease in 12-month night-time sleep duration on weekdays. Moreover, infants who were exposed to screen media in the evening at age 6 months and 12 months had shorter 12-month night-time sleep duration compared with those who were not exposed to screen media after 7 pm at both ages. Night-time sleep duration at 12 months of age was also directly related to 6-month night-time sleep duration. CONCLUSION: Infants exposed to screen media in the evening at 12 months of age had decreased 12-month night-time sleep duration. To promote good sleep hygiene and optimal sleep for infants at this age, screen media exposure after 7 pm should be avoided.