Naughty kids lose sleep

PARENTS are fighting a losing battle trying to get their misbehaving children to sleep, as scientists find kids who act up are more likely to sleep badly.

More than 5000 Australian children were examined in a study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, which found a relationship between poor sleep and negative behaviour in the four to five-year-old age group.

The researchers identified a “feedback loop” where behavioural and sleep issues are both causes of the other.

The results showed children who were reported by parents to have problems sleeping on four or more nights a week were more likely to misbehave.

Issues such as difficulty getting to sleep, not being happy to sleep alone or waking multiple times were more likely to occur in children who had behaviour problems.