ABSTRACT
Sleep is one of the primary activities of a child from infancy to adolescence.
During this time, sleep is profoundly influenced by a wide array of behavioral,
developmental, environmental, and emotional factors. Although a physiological
process, sleep is continually shaped by a multitude of factors, including devel-
opmental and health status, social and emotional factors, and characteristics and
sleep practices of both the caregiver and child (Fig. 1). Any of these factors,
alone or in any combination, may either precipitate or maintain sleep patterns
that prevent children from functioning at their optimal level, affecting numerous
aspects of their growth, health, behavior, and development, as well as overall
quality of life. This chapter discusses those behavioral influences, most often
associated with specific ages, in further detail.
