CNN —Establishing healthy bedtime habits for your child early on is vital if at least one parent has chronic sleep difficulties, suggests new research on genetics and children’s sleep disorders.
It does, say experts behind the first study providing evidence that genetic susceptibility to being a “poor sleeper” can also be found early in life.
Children genetically predisposed to insomnia had more insomnia-related sleep issues such as difficulty falling asleep or frequently waking up during the night, according to the study published Wednesday in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
“You would think that, sure, if it’s genetically determined, why wouldn’t it manifest earlier in life?”Good sleep hygiene for kidsThere is still hope for your child’s sleep health.
“If your child is a natural late sleeper, then don’t force them to go to sleep early,” Sehgal added.
Persons:
Catherine Falls, ”, Eus van Someren, —, they’re, Amita Sehgal, wasn’t, Sehgal, “, Desana, ” Kocevska, they’ve, ” Sehgal
Organizations:
CNN, Child Psychology, Psychiatry, Getty, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Sleep Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center
Locations:
Catherine, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands