Child temperament and sleep problems: the moderating role of bedtime routines

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10566-025-09870-8

Background: Children’s temperamental traits, such as rhythmicity, reactivity, and persistence, as well as bedtime routines, play a crucial role in influencing their sleep behaviors. Objective: The present study examined the contributions of the children’s temperament (rhythmicity, reactivity, and persistence) and bedtime routines to children’s sleep problems, with a further interest in examining the moderating role of bedtime routines between child temperament and sleep problems. Method: The sample consisted of 313 mothers of children aged between 16 and 84 months (M = 52.42, SD = 12.36). The mothers provided reports on their children’s sleep problems, bedtime routines, and temperament. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses were run to test hypotheses. Results indicated that children’s temperamental rhythmicity and reactivity were closely linked to sleep problems, with bedtime routines, especially a consistent bedtime environment, helping to reduce these issues. Consistent bedtime practices moderated the effect of low rhythmicity, as children with lower rhythmicity experienced fewer sleep problems when routines were stable. Conclusions: Regular bedtime routines may serve as a protective factor, mitigating the effects of challenging temperamental traits on sleep.