“We know that many, many parents rely on TV and video as part of their child’s sleep routine,” said Christakis, “Watching television before bed makes it more difficult for children to fall asleep.”

Thompson explained that a regular sleep schedule is important, because it influences the quality and quantity of sleep that children get. And, healthy sleep habits can prevent problems such as bedtime resistance or nighttime awakenings.

Other studies have looked at the effects of TV viewing on older children and teens, and also found a link between TV, poor sleep and later bedtimes.

Another common mistake is putting their children to bed too late at night. Drewek said kids between the ages of 2 and 4 need 11 to 13 hours of sleep each night.

Sleep deprivation in children often manifests itself as hyperactivity, Drewek said, which sometimes leads to a misdiagnosis of hyperactivity disorder. That diagnosis can lead to unnecessary medication.

Her best advice is for parents to keep their pediatricians advised of their children’s sleep habits. Nap time and bedtime routines also should be established to support consistent sleep.

President Macapagal-Arroyo is not losing sleep over loud calls for her resignation as a result of the purported bribery and overprice scandal attending the scrapped National Broadband Network project.

In an interview Saturday over dzRH, the President said she had been sleeping “seven hours a night,” and that this was part of her “energy management.”

“The results of our study have significant implications for the prevention of injuries,” Koulouglioti concludes. “The findings provide additional support for the essential role of poor sleep as a risk factor for injuries among preschool children.”

In 2000, Stilnox became the first product containing zolpidem to be marketed in Australia. To January 4, 2008, the TGA had received 1032 reports of suspected reactions to zolpidem products, most received over the past 12 months and relating to sleep-walking, sleep-eating and sleep-driving.

The TGA will meet the National Prescribing Service to discuss additional educational materials for prescribers, emphasising the need to use sleeping medicines only where clinically indicated, and for short periods of time.