Sleep Habits in Toddlers 18 to 36 Months Old

Although sleep disruptions are very common in toddlers, developmental norms have not yet been established. A Toddler Sleep Habits Questionnaire was designed to obtain descriptions of toddlers' sleep habits and to clarify what constitutes a sleep problem. Data obtained from the questionnaire in a middle to upper-middle-class sample showed that a substantial proportion of the children had struggles around bedtime, used a special toy to aid in falling asleep, used a nightlight, and continued to have regular night waking. Parents were not concerned about these habits but did express worry about such behaviors as cosleeping, needing to hold the child at bedtime, or giving a bottle during the night. Comparison of these results with those of other studies suggests that some sleep disruptions, such as bedtime settling difficulties and middle of the night awakening, may have a developmental basis.