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Could what your child watch have an effect on his sleeping habits?

The study is published online the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers tested whether changing the type of videos and television shows watched by 3- to 5-year-old children improved their sleep. Nearly 600 children and their families where used in the study. Half of them received a home visit and several follow-up phone calls and mailings from a case manager, who tried to help the family find ways to replace violent and age-inappropriate media content with educational and pro-social media content.

Parents were also encouraged to watch TV and videos alongside their children.

"Given that early childhood sleep problems have been associated with a range of deleterious outcomes, both acute and long-term, including increased injuries, behavioural and emotional problems, difficulties in school, and obesity, the availability of useful, feasible strategies is critical," the authors said. 

The other half was the control group. They received nutrition-related mailings instead.

Researchers evaluated children's sleep, including how long it took for them to fall asleep, night wakings, nightmares, difficulty waking and daytime tiredness.

They found that children who received the healthy media use intervention had significantly lower odds of sleep problems, and that this effect persisted across the intervention year, but faded six months after the program ended.

"Content that's funny for older kids can be too violent for really young children," said study author Michelle Garrison from the Seattle Children's Research Institute, adding that even Bugs Bunny is "too much" for kids younger than 6. "We really don't want them exposed to any violence at all."

Researchers found that cartoons like Curious George, Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street can nurture certain qualities in children.

"That kind of media content really models good social skills, like empathy, cooperation and problem solving," Garrison said. "And we found that taking steps to reduce violent media produced tangible and sustained effects on sleep."Researchers say trying to reduce media violence is an important goal for all families and there are lots of healthy and positive content out there for preschool children. 

Last a month, a study revealed that every hour of TV watched by a two- to four-year- old adds up to his or her waist size by the end of grade 4 and also effects his or her ability to perform in sports.