Sensory Processing and Sleep in Typically Developing Infants and Toddlers Mark Vasak, James Williamson, Jennifer Garden, Jill G. Zwicker MeSH TERMS  child development  sensation disorders  sleep  sleep initiation and maintenance disorders Mark Vasak, MOT, is Occupational Therapy Graduate, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. James Williamson, MOT, is Occupational Therapy Graduate, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Jennifer Garden, MSc, OT, is Founder, Sleepdreams Professional Sleep Consultants, Inc., and Instructor and Fieldwork Manager, Capilano University, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Jill G. Zwicker, PhD, OT(C), is Assistant Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia; Associate Member, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Pediatrics, University of British Columbia; Scientist Level 1, Child & Family Research Institute; and Clinician Scientist, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; jill.zwicker@ubc.ca OBJECTIVE. To explore the relationship between sensory processing patterns and sleep problems in typically developing infants and toddlers. METHOD. A retrospective chart review of 177 infants and toddlers from a community occupational therapy sleep clinic included descriptive and correlational analyses of data from the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile and Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. RESULTS. More than half of participants (55%) demonstrated a pattern of increased sensory processing in one or more quadrants, with sensitivity being most common (36%). We found small but significant corre- lations between increased seeking and shorter daytime sleep duration (r 52.24, p 5 .002) and between increased sensitivity and longer time to settle to sleep (r 5 .27, p < .001). CONCLUSION. This study adds to recent literature linking sensory processing patterns to sleep problems and is the first to demonstrate this relationship in young, typically developing children. Results support the role of occupational therapy in addressing sleep difficulties in children. Vasak, M., Williamson, J., Garden, J., & Zwicker, J. G. (2015). Sensory processing and sleep in typically developing infants and toddlers. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69, 6904220040. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.015891 S leep is an important occupation to be considered in pediatric practice (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2011). As many as 30% of parents report that their child (0–12 yr) has sleep issues (Galland, Taylor, Elder, & Herbison, 2012), which also affects the well-being of their mothers (Lam, Hiscock, & Wake, 2003). Recent research suggests a relationship between sleep difficulties and patterns of sensory processing (Engel-Yeger & Shochat, 2012; Reynolds, Lane, & Thacker, 2012; Shani-Adir, Rozenman, Kessel, & Engel-Yeger, 2009; Shochat, Tzischinsky, & Engel-Yeger, 2009; Wengel, Hanlon-Dearman, & Fjelstad, 2011). Because infant and toddler sleep is a major concern for parents and professionals (Sadeh, Mindell, Luedtke, & Wiegand, 2009; Thunstro ¨m, 1999), research to further support occupational therapy practice in addressing sleep issues has the potential to improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Sleep in Children According to Hirshkowitz (2004), sleep is a brain process similar to other ho- meostatic processes, such as thirst or hunger. Influenced by a circadian rhythm, sleep consists of two main stages: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non- REM sleep (Hirshkowitz, 2004). Although the reasons for sleep are not fully clear, it is known that sleep is essential to our health and survival (Rechtschaffen, Bergmann, Everson, Kushida, & Gilliland, 1989; Shepard et al., 2005). Although the literature on sleep norms is supported by a long history of research (Carskadon & Dement, 2011), literature that addresses the sleep norms of children is less thorough than that on adult populations (Galland The American Journal of Occupational Therapy 6904220040p1 Downloaded From: http://ajot.aota.org/ on 03/03/2016 Terms of Use: http://AOTA.org/terms