Eat, sleep, poop; hardly subjects of popular literature and a Hollywood movie, but it happens to be what most infants do well. Each of those activities, when properly balanced, helps a baby grow strong and stay on track for normal development.
It’s relevant, then, that findings of a recent study indicate that babies and toddlers who don’t get a good 10 hours of sleep each night often begin to tip the scales – literally. At a time when childhood obesity is epidemic in the U.S., this study points to an often overlooked factor in a child’s physiological development.
Previous research has shown that "people who sleep a good eight hours-plus are more likely to maintain a normal weight than those who sleep less than eight hours a night," National Public Radio reported Tuesday. The study, published in the September issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, "finds that even for infants and preschoolers, a good, long night's sleep may be just as important as diet and physical activity."
Researchers studied government data on nearly 2,000 U.S. kids divided into two groups; ages 1 month to 59 months, and ages 5 to 13 years, with baseline data collected in 1997 and again in 2002.
At the end of the five-year period, they found that the sleep-deprived infants and toddlers in the study group were "nearly more than twice as likely to move from normal weight to overweight, and from overweight to obese," during that time.
"Among the younger children, lack of sufficient nighttime sleep at baseline was associated with increased risk for later overweight or obesity," said a Bloomberg Businessweek report on the study.
"For older children (aged 5-13 years)," the study’s abstract says, "baseline sleep was not associated with subsequent weight status."
Researchers Janice F. Bell and Frederick J. Zimmerman wrote that the findings indicate there's a critical period before age 5, "when nighttime sleep may be important for subsequent obesity status."
"Insufficient nighttime sleep among infants and preschool-aged children appears to be a lasting risk factor for subsequent obesity," the authors concluded.
While the study did not address why sleep-deprived children tend to become overweight, Bell said that less sleep brings certain hormonal changes in the body which can cause a craving for unhealthy foods. She additionally theorized that the kids may just be too tired appropriate exercise and play.
It’s relevant, then, that findings of a recent study indicate that babies and toddlers who don’t get a good 10 hours of sleep each night often begin to tip the scales – literally. At a time when childhood obesity is epidemic in the U.S., this study points to an often overlooked factor in a child’s physiological development.
Previous research has shown that "people who sleep a good eight hours-plus are more likely to maintain a normal weight than those who sleep less than eight hours a night," National Public Radio reported Tuesday. The study, published in the September issue of the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, "finds that even for infants and preschoolers, a good, long night's sleep may be just as important as diet and physical activity."
Researchers studied government data on nearly 2,000 U.S. kids divided into two groups; ages 1 month to 59 months, and ages 5 to 13 years, with baseline data collected in 1997 and again in 2002.
At the end of the five-year period, they found that the sleep-deprived infants and toddlers in the study group were "nearly more than twice as likely to move from normal weight to overweight, and from overweight to obese," during that time.
"Among the younger children, lack of sufficient nighttime sleep at baseline was associated with increased risk for later overweight or obesity," said a Bloomberg Businessweek report on the study.
"For older children (aged 5-13 years)," the study’s abstract says, "baseline sleep was not associated with subsequent weight status."
Researchers Janice F. Bell and Frederick J. Zimmerman wrote that the findings indicate there's a critical period before age 5, "when nighttime sleep may be important for subsequent obesity status."
"Insufficient nighttime sleep among infants and preschool-aged children appears to be a lasting risk factor for subsequent obesity," the authors concluded.
While the study did not address why sleep-deprived children tend to become overweight, Bell said that less sleep brings certain hormonal changes in the body which can cause a craving for unhealthy foods. She additionally theorized that the kids may just be too tired appropriate exercise and play.
Early Childhood Lab School (ECL)
The Early Childhood Lab School (ECL) is the weekday program for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at CCFS. It serves as a model early childhood program, a site for research involving young children, and provides an educational experience for students studying child development. The program enrolls 82 children: 10 infants, 12 toddlers, and 60 preschoolers, in four classrooms and three large outdoor play spaces.
Each class is staffed by a Head Teacher with a B.A. in human development or early childhood education, a Program Coordinator with a Masters degree in either field, and four or five undergraduate student caregivers enrolled in our Communication and Interaction with Young Children course. These are upper division UC Davis students with background in human development who allow us to provide individualized attention to children.
Our children's program is based on a philosophy of active learning through play in an enriched environment. We strive to respect every child's own developmental needs and interests. Our curriculum incorporates ideas from a variety of models, including the Reggio Emilia schools of Italy, the High Scope Active Learning Curriculum, principles of the Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC) and others to create our own eclectic approach, tailored to each age group. Our focus is on children's social and emotional development in a setting that emphasizes nurturing relationships within a culturally diverse school community. Although we do not teach academic skills in a formal way, children are given many opportunities to develop early language and literacy skills, build on math concepts, explore science and nature and learn social and emotional skills that will contribute to their success in later schooling.
Research about child development is an essential part of the ECL. Parents who enroll their children grant permission for their children to be part of the naturalistic observation research that takes place daily. Several times per year parents are asked to consider other research projects that would involve direct interaction with their child. Parents receive a description of each research project approved by our Research Director and sign an informed consent form. Research assistants are supervised by faculty members and by our staff.
