What keeps little ones up at night.

Studies in the July 2007 issue of Early Human Development and the September 2007 issue of Pediatrics have uncovered factors that may disrupt infant and toddler sleep. The first study identified a link between anxiety and depression in pregnant women and sleep problems in their offspring that can negatively affect a wide range of bodily and developmental processes. The second study found that nicotine in breast milk produces similar effects and, the authors speculate, could further increase these children's risk of becoming smokers themselves, given that children often prefer flavors initially transmitted through breast milk.

edited by Erin E. Dooley