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Severe sleep problems among infants in a normal population in Sweden: prevalence, severity and correlates
1Department of Paediatrics, Children's University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Insights
Parental worries and feeding issues correlate with infant sleep problems. Many parents seek help but are unsatisfied with support, highlighting a need for better infant sleep solutions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Infant sleep problems are common concerns for parents.
- Parental experiences and satisfaction with support services require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of infant sleep problems in a community sample.
- To identify correlates of severe infant sleep problems.
- To assess parental satisfaction with help received for sleep issues.
Main Methods:
- A community-based questionnaire survey of 2518 infants aged 6-18 months.
- Detailed study of 129 infants meeting criteria for severe sleep problems (International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 1990).
- Analysis of parental reports on sleep difficulties, help-seeking behavior, and satisfaction.
Main Results:
- 16% of parents reported moderate/severe sleep onset difficulties; 30% reported frequent night waking.
- Severe sleep problems (6.2% of sample) correlated with parental anxiety, infant feeding issues, and intensive parental interventions.
- Only 48% of parents were satisfied with the support from Child Health Centres.
Conclusions:
- Infant sleep problems are prevalent and associated with parental anxiety and feeding difficulties.
- Parental insecurity in their role may contribute to severe sleep problems.
- There is a significant gap in parental satisfaction with current support services for infant sleep issues.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of parentally experienced infant sleep problems, with special interest in severe problems, in a total community sample of 2518 infants aged 6-18 mo. Correlates to severe sleep problems were sought. The families were approached using a questionnaire and 83% responded. Data from the collection procedure point to a nonselective dropout. Sixteen percent of the parents reported their children as having moderate or severe difficulties in falling asleep at night (sleep refusal, bedtime struggles) and 30% reported frequent night waking. Almost all (93%) of the parents had sought help at the Child Health Centre (CHC), but only 48% were satisfied with the support and advice they got. Severe sleep problems as defined by the ICSD (International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 1990) were found in 129 of the children (6.2%), who were studied in detail, with the rest of the population as controls. Severe sleep problems were found to be correlated with parental worries and anxiety concerning infant health (although the children were reported as being as healthy as the controls), infant feeding problems and intensive parental interventional behaviour (especially feeding) during the evening and night. A common factor of insecurity in the parental role is suggested.