Children were grouped by age and type of school attendance as well. Almost half the children slept 10-11 hours a day, including daytime naps and nighttime sleep, although the amount of sleep did decrease slightly in older children. Boys who slept less than 10 hours a night suffered 133 percent more injuries than those who got more sleep, accounting for most of the increased risk. Most injuries occurred between 4 p.m. and midnight. Boys had five times the risk, compared to girls who had only twice the risk.
Findings suggest new tactics for injury prevention among children.
Finding that the duration of sleep and the duration of wakefulness are associated with the risk of injury in children suggests that optimizing sleep could provide new opportunities in preventing childhood injuries. Bedtime rules are important and should be consistently applied.