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Table 7 Surveillance recommendations for the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (birth to 5 years). (adapted from the Surveillance recommendations for the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years)

From: A collaborative approach to adopting/adapting guidelines - The Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the early years (Birth to 5 years): an integration of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep

Physical activity

 Australian Guideline

Specific Surveillance Recommendation

Rationale for specific surveillance recommendation

Recommendation for minimum inclusion in overall guideline surveillancea

Infants (aged <1 year)

 Being physically active several times in a variety of ways, particularly through interactive floor-based play; more is better.

None

Currently there are no available benchmarks, further research is required

No

 For those not yet mobile, this includes at least 30 min of tummy time spread throughout the day while awake

Total tummy time on the previous day is ≥30 min while awakeb

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

Yes

Toddlers (aged 1–2 years)

 At least 180 min spent in a variety of physical activities at any intensity, spread throughout the day; more is better.

Previous day physical activity is ≥180 min with at least some energetic play (MVPA)b

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

It allows direct comparison with previous national representative data from the Australian Health Survey [39]

Yes

 Including energetic play

Previous day total physical activity is ≥180 min with at least some energetic play (MVPA)b

As there are no benchmarks for duration we suggest not having a minimum threshold for energetic play or MVPA in this age group.

No

Preschoolers (aged 3–5 years)

 At least 180 min spent in a variety of physical activities spread throughout the day

Previous day total physical activity is ≥180 minutesb

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

It allows direct comparison with previous national representative data from the Australian Health Survey [39]

Yes

 Of which at least 60 min is energetic play; more is better

Previous day MVPA is ≥60 minutesb

 

Yes

Sedentary behaviour

 Guideline

Specific Surveillance Recommendation

Rationale for specific surveillance recommendation

Recommendation for minimum inclusion in overall guideline surveillance

Infants (aged <1 year)

 Infants

 Not being restrained for more than 1 h at a time (e.g., in a stroller, car seat or high chair).

Time spent restrained is ≤1 h at a timed

Empirical evidence substantiating this threshold is lacking though this threshold is aligned with earlier guidelines and has met with stakeholder and end-user acceptance

No

 When sedentary, engaging in pursuits such as reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged

None

Currently there are no available benchmarks, further research is required.

No

Toddlers (aged 1–2 years)

 Not being restrained for more than 1 h at a time (e.g., in a stroller, car seat or high chair).

Time spent restrained is ≤1 h at a timed

Empirical evidence substantiating this threshold is lacking though this threshold is aligned with earlier guidelines and has met with stakeholder and end-user acceptance

No

 Or sitting for extended periods

None

Currently there are no available benchmarks to be more specific for “sitting for extended periods”, further research is required.

No

 When sedentary, engaging in pursuits such as reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged

None

Currently there are no available benchmarks, further research is required

 

Preschoolers (aged 3–5 years)

 Not being restrained for more than 1 h at a time (e.g., in a stroller or car seat).

Time spent restrained is ≤1 h at a timed

Empirical evidence substantiating this threshold is lacking though this threshold is aligned with earlier guidelines and has met with stakeholder and end-user acceptance

No

 Or sitting for extended periods

Bouts of sedentary time

Currently there are no available benchmarks to be more specific for “sitting for extended periods”, further research is required.

No

 When sedentary, engaging in pursuits such as reading and storytelling with a caregiver is encouraged

None

Currently there are no available benchmarks, further research is required

No

Screen time

 Guideline

Specific Surveillance Recommendation

Rationale for specific surveillance recommendation

Recommendation for minimum inclusion in overall guideline surveillance

Infants (aged <1 year)

 Screen time is not recommended.

Previous day includes no screen timec

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

This threshold is aligned with earlier guidelines and has met with stakeholder and end-user acceptance, and is consistent with evidence in this age group indicating that no screen time is better than some screen time and that less screen time is better than more screen time, for health and development.

Yes

Toddlers (aged 1–2 years)

 For those younger than 2 years, sedentary screen time is not recommended.

Previous day includes no screen timec

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

Yes

 For those aged 2 years, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 h per day; less is better

Sedentary screen time on previous day is ≤1 hourb

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

It allows direct comparison with previous national representative data from the Australian Health Survey [39]

Yes

Preschoolers (aged 3–5 years)

 Sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour per day; less is better.

Sedentary screen time on previous day is ≤1 hourb

A representative day provides a more accurate recall and hence better estimate of the prevalence of the guideline in a population representative sample [37, 38].

It allows direct comparison with previous national representative data from the Australian Health Survey [39]

Yes

Sleep

 Guideline

Specific Surveillance Recommendation

Rationale for specific surveillance recommendation

Recommendation for minimum inclusion in overall guideline surveillance

Infants (aged <1 year)

 14 to 17 h (for those aged 0–3 months) of good quality sleep, including naps.

Sleep period time on previous night (offset minus onset), plus daytime naps for previous day.

Currently recommended by NSF, based on expert opinion.

https://sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times/page/0/1

Yes

 12 to 16 h (for those aged 4–11 months) of good quality sleep, including naps.

Sleep period time on previous night (offset minus onset), plus daytime naps for previous day.

Currently recommended by NSFe, based on expert opinion.

https://sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times/page/0/1

Yes

Toddlers (aged 1–2 years)

 11 to 14 h of good quality sleep, including naps,

Sleep period time on previous night (offset minus onset), plus daytime naps for previous day.

Currently recommended by NSF, based on expert opinion.

https://sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times/page/0/1

Yes

 With consistent sleep and wake-up times

Day-to-day variability in sleep onset and offset times.f

Recommended as part of sleep hygiene. No evidence in this age group, but there is some evidence in adolescents (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28129442) and adults (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27091639)

No

Preschoolers (aged 3–5 years)

 10 to 13 h of good quality sleep, which may include a nap,

Sleep period time on previous night (offset minus onset), plus daytime naps for previous day.

Currently recommended by NSF, based on expert opinion.

https://sleepfoundation.org/press-release/national-sleep-foundation-recommends-new-sleep-times/page/0/1

Yes

 With consistent sleep and wake-up times

Day-to-day variability in sleep onset and offset times.f Bedtime and wake-up time should not typically vary by more than ±30 min including on weekendsg

Recommended as part of sleep hygiene. No evidence in this age group, but there is some evidence in adolescents (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28129442) and adults (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27091639)

No

  1. aThese indicate the current recommended minimum inclusion recommendations for surveillance of meeting the 24-h guidelines. Other specific guideline recommendations, which have not been identified as recommended components for surveillance of meeting the 24-h guidelines, should still be measured for descriptive purposes and to determine if changes are occurring prospectively. As evidence grows and surveillance measures evolve for these other recommendations, updates to the minimum surveillance criteria may be required
  2. bIf multiple representative day recalls are available (e.g., last three days) it is recommended to use these over just the previous day
  3. cIt is understood that under special circumstances exposure to screen time may happen but should be rare or unusual
  4. dIt is understood that under special circumstances being restrained in excess of 1 h at a time may occur but should be rare or unusual
  5. eNote that the NSF actually recommends 12–15 h for this age group
  6. fSurveillance requires the use of sleep diaries recording onset and offset times. Until there are better dose-response relationships between sleep variability and health outcomes, it is premature to recommend a particular goal (e.g. “within 30 min”). There are many ways this can be quantified. The simplest is the SD of onset and offset times over one week
  7. gTo accurately assess consistency of bedtime and wake-up time data should be collected on both weekday and weekend days. If data from weekday and weekend days are available, it is recommended that the average variation in bedtime and wake-up time be weighted 2/7 for weekend days and 5/7 for weekdays to most accurately reflect average weekly measures