Regular bedtimes are an important part of child development, according to a new study from the University College London.

Children with inconsistent sleep schedules risk compromising their "natural body rhythms" at a time when any disruption to development can cause lasting effects, such as hindered brain maturation and the inability to regulate certain behaviors, as per the study.

"Not having fixed bedtimes, accompanied by a constant sense of flux, induces a state of body and mind akin to jet lag and this matters for healthy development and daily functioning," said study author and professor of Epidomology and Health Yvonne Kelly.

The study tested 10,000 kids ages three to seven.

"We know that early child development has profound influences on health and wellbeing across the life course," she said. "It follows that disruptions to sleep, especially if they occur at key times in development, could have important lifelong impacts on health."

Children with irregular bedtimes demonstrated higher levels of hyperactivity, conduct problems, problems with peers and emotional difficulties, the study said. The highest rates of inconsistency were found among three year olds; rates gradually decreased as the child grew older.

Researchers found the negative effects of sporadic bedtime schedules to accumulate over time. The longer a loose schedule persisted, the greater the risk. Yet, according to researchers, enforcing a strict bedtime regime with children could restore balance,

"As it appears the effects of inconsistent bedtimes are reversible, one way to try and prevent this would be for health care providers to check for sleep disruptions as part of routine health care visits," Kelly said. "Given the importance of early childhood development on subsequent health, there may be knock-on effects across the life course. Therefore, there are clear opportunities for interventions aimed at supporting family routines that could have important lifelong impacts."