Tablets before bed may disrupt kids' sleep, study finds

NCT ID NCT05820555

First seen Jun 08, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 4 times

Summary

This study looked at how using a tablet in the evening affects young children's sleep and thinking skills. Researchers compared kids who used a tablet before bed with those who had no screen time. They measured changes in sleep timing, melatonin levels, and executive function. The goal is to understand if screen time near bedtime is harmful for preschoolers.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Children's Nutrition Research Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

timed evening tablet use

What this could lead to

If it works, this could help families understand how screen time before bed affects children's sleep and thinking skills.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed study with 170 children. Results may not apply to all kids or different devices. It only looks at short-term effects.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

sleep disorder Sleep Hygiene

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.