Small Screens May Be Preventing Your Child From A Good Night's Rest

Small screens including iPods, smartphones and other tablets may affect the amount of sleep your child is getting, according to recent findings published in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who slept with smartphones or tablets in their room or by their bed received 21 minutes less of sleep than those who did not.

The study looked at a racially diverse group of 2,048 fourth-graders and seventh-graders who were conducted to assess child obesity in Massachusetts. As previous studies have shown that lack of sleep can increase the risk of weight gain, participants were asked if they needed more sleep or if they slept with a "small screen" in their bed or next to their bed.

Fifty-seven percent of the children slept with a "small screen" nearby, while children reported getting less sleep and feeling like they needed more sleep.

Furthermore, researchers also looked at larger screens that are typically found in children's bedrooms, including televisions or video game equipment. These children typically received about 18 minutes less sleep than those who did not have a television in their room. The study showed that this was about two-thirds of the participants.

Findings also showed that children with screens (large or small) present in their bedroom typically went to bed later than those without.

However, the study did not explain why the screens kept the children from sleeping. Further research will be needed in order to determine these specifics.

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