GIVING young children regular bedtimes could help boost their brainpower, a new study has suggested.

Researchers found that inconsistent bedtimes are linked to children’s cognitive development. They warned of ‘knock-on’ health effects throughout life.

They assessed whether the time a child went to bed, and the consistency of bedtimes, impacted on intellectual performance, measured by testing reading, maths and spatial awareness.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, examined more than 10,000 childrentaking part in the Millennium Cohort Study – a long-term study of those born in the UK between September 2000 and January 2002.