Infants’ and Young Children’s Sleep Behavior During the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Theoretical background: Sleep is a vital factor in early development. Altered child sleep behavior has been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic ( Sharma et al., 2021 ). Objective: We describe young children’s sleep behavior during the lockdown. Method: Caregivers of children aged 0 to 47 months ( N = 2001) living in Germany completed an online survey during the first lockdown. We then compared aspects of children’s sleep and their caregivers’ mental well-being health before and during the lockdown. We explored the factors predicting changes in time spent awake at night, a central aspect of sleep quality. Results: Overall, caregiver-reported sleep was negatively affected. Some predictors of changes in time spent awake at night differed between infants (aged 0 – 12 months) and toddlers (aged 13 – 47 months). Discussion and conclusion: Infants’ and toddlers’ sleeping behavior was differently affected during the lockdown. Age-related differences in factors predicting changes in time spent awake at night highlight the need for developmentally sensitive sleep interventions.