In this longitudinal study we aimed to analyse the possible antecedents of sleep problems in early childhood. The birth cohort of 206 full term infants was followed from the birth to age two years old. The medical records on neonates' functioning and delivery mode, and maternal reports on children's sleep duration and sleep problems, problem behaviours, maternal postnatal depression were analysed in the study. The detailed path analysis revealed that toddlers' sleep problems can be predicted by mother-reported day time sleep duration in infancy and behavioural problems in infancy and early childhood. The influence of maternal depression on sleep problems is indirect, through the enhancement of infants' problem behaviours and children's internalizing problems. Emergent caesarean section is a risk factor for sleep problems in toddlerhood, especially if it goes together with maternal depressiveness. The short sleep duration and problem behaviours (e.g. excessive crying) in infancy could be important precursors of sleep problems in toddlerhood.
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