Sleep behaviour in preterm children from birth to age 10 years: a longitudinal study.

AIM: To study clinically relevant aspects of sleep behaviour in preterm children in comparison to term children.

METHODS: Longitudinal sleep behaviour data were collected prospectively by structured interviews in 130 preterm and 75 control term children from birth to age 10 y.

RESULTS: No significant differences in sleep duration (time in bed per 24 h), bedsharing, night wakings, bedtime resistance and sleep-onset difficulties were found between preterm and term children.

CONCLUSION: Sleep behaviour does not differ between preterm and term children from birth to age 10 y, indicating that prematurity or neonatal intensive care experience does not significantly affect sleep in the first 10 y of life.