Sleep disturbances in preschool children born prematurely

ZHANG Qifei; ZHAO Feng; JIANG Haining; YU Yingjun; FANG Xianglan; XIE Duoshuang

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0311

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (8) : 936-940. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0311

Review

Sleep disturbances in preschool children born prematurely

ZHANG Qifei^1,2, ZHAO Feng¹, JIANG Haining², YU Yingjun², FANG Xianglan², XIE Duoshuang³

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Abstract

Sleep disturbances in preschool children born prematurely significantly impact their neurodevelopment, cognitive function, and family quality of life.Compared with full-term infants, preterm infants are more likely to experience sleep disturbances during the preschool period, and these issues may persist into school age and even adulthood.This review systematically synthesizes current evidence regarding the classification, underlying pathogenic mechanisms of sleep disorders in this vulnerable population. Furthermore, we examine the long-term consequences of atypical sleep patterns on neurodevelopment and propose multidimensional, evidence-based intervention strategies, aiming to provide targeted clinical guidance for improving sleep quality in preschool-age preterm children.

Key words

preterm infants / preschool / sleep disturbances / neurodevelopment / interventions

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ZHANG Qifei, ZHAO Feng, JIANG Haining, YU Yingjun, FANG Xianglan, XIE Duoshuang. Sleep disturbances in preschool children born prematurely[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(8): 936-940 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-0311

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