We are proud to celebrate our own, Dr. Diana Grigsby-Toussaint, whose research on children’s sleep has recently gained national media attention!

Diana’s latest study explores a critical issue affecting families across the country: the lack of sleep among children. She found that only 14% of American children are getting the recommended amount of sleep.  These findings have sparked widespread discussion and have recently been featured in Newsweek, The Boston Globe, and Philly Voice.

The study, conducted in Rhode Island with over 100 children aged 6 to 10, found a striking gap between parent perceptions and reality. While more than 83% of parents believed their child was getting enough sleep, objective data showed that only a fraction actually met sleep guidelines. On average, parents overestimated sleep duration by more than an hour. The research also found that Latino children experienced shorter sleep and were less likely to meet sleep recommendations, pointing to disparities in both sleep quality and parental awareness.

The attention this study has received reinforces the urgent need to address sleep as a key part of children’s health and to support families with evidence-based strategies for improvement.

Congratulations, Diana, on this well-deserved recognition!