<p id="P1">This paper presents a conceptual model and reviews the empirical evidence
to support
a nightly bedtime routine as a key factor in the promotion of not only healthy sleep,
but also of broad development and wellbeing in early childhood. A bedtime routine
embodies the characteristics of nurturing care and early child stimulation, which
are deemed to be essential for positive outcomes, especially for at-risk children.
Furthermore, common, adaptive components of a bedtime routine can contribute to an
array of positive developmental outcomes beyond improved sleep, inclusive of language
development, literacy, child emotional and behavioral regulation, parent–child attachment,
and family functioning, among other outcomes. These bedtime routine components include
activities in the broad domains of nutrition (e.g., feeding, healthy snack), hygiene
(e.g., bathing, oral care), communication (e.g., reading, singing/lullabies) and physical
contact (e.g., massage, cuddling/rocking). A bedtime routine can provide multiple
benefits to child and family functioning at a time of day that many parents are present
with their children. Although additional research on hypothesized routine-related
child outcomes and mechanisms of action are needed, promoting a bedtime routine may
be a feasible and cost-effective method to promote positive early childhood development
worldwide, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged and other at-risk young
children.
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