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Brief report: evaluating the Bedtime Pass Program for child resistance to bedtime--a randomized, controlled trial
Brie A Moore1, Patrick C Friman, Alan E Fruzzetti
1Univeristy of Nevada, USA.
Insights
The Bedtime Pass Program (BPP) effectively reduces bedtime resistance in children. This behavioral intervention helps children stay in bed, decreasing nighttime disruptions for families.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric sleep science
- Behavioral psychology
- Child development
Background:
- Bedtime resistance is a common issue in young children.
- Existing treatments may have drawbacks, such as extinction bursts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the Bedtime Pass Program (BPP) for treating bedtime resistance.
- To assess BPP as an extinction-based procedure for typically developing children.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 19 children aged 3-6 years with bedtime resistance.
- Children were assigned to either the Bedtime Pass group or a Monitoring Control group.
- The Bedtime Pass involved a card exchangeable for one parental visit, with subsequent bids for attention ignored.
Main Results:
- Children in the Bedtime Pass group exhibited significantly less room-leaving and vocalizations (crying/calling).
- A significant reduction in the time required for children to settle each night was observed.
- Treatment benefits were sustained at a 3-month follow-up, with high parent satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- The Bedtime Pass Program is a simple, acceptable, and effective treatment for childhood bedtime resistance.
- BPP leverages extinction principles without the typically associated extinction burst.
- This program offers a practical solution for managing sleep-related behavioral issues in children.
Objective:
To evaluate the Bedtime Pass Program (BPP), an extinction-based procedure for treating bedtime resistance in typically developing children.
Methods:
A randomized, controlled trial in which nineteen 3- to 6-year-old children demonstrating bedtime resistance were randomly assigned to a Bedtime Pass or Monitoring Control group. The experimental condition involved parent monitoring plus the Bedtime Pass: a card exchangeable for one parental visit or excused departure from the room after bedtime, with parents ignoring subsequent bids for attention.
Results:
Children in the Bedtime Pass condition left their rooms and called and cried out significantly less frequently than controls. They demonstrated significant reductions in the time required to quiet each night. Treatment effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Parents reported high levels of satisfaction and treatment acceptability.
Conclusions:
BPP is a noncomplex, socially acceptable, effective treatment for bedtime resistance. It retains the powerful effects of extinction-based procedures without the "extinction burst."
