Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Irregular lifestyles, such as sleep deprivation and disordered eating, disrupt the circadian clock and are linked to health issues. This study investigates the relationship among chronotypes, social jet lag, night-snacking habits, and screen time in toddlers. METHODS: A survey of 6177 mothers of children aged 3-8 years was conducted in June 2022. Means comparison and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Toddlers who consumed night snacks were more likely to be evening types and experienced longer social jet lag. Longer screen time during night snacking correlated with evening-type tendencies. Juice and ice cream were identified as evening-type snacks. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that stopping snacks after dinner is crucial to prevent evening-type eating. Especially, high-sugar and high-fat night snacks like juice and ice cream may contribute to nocturnal habits and disrupt circadian rhythms in children.