Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
Published on: October 11, 2018
Infant sleep and feeding
1Baker University, School of Nursing, Stormont-Vail HealthCare Campus, Topeka, KS 66604, USA. lrosen@stormontvail.org
Objective:
To conduct an integrated review of the literature on the relationship between infant sleep and feeding; hence, health care providers have accurate information to provide anticipatory guidance to parents making decisions regarding feeding and sleeping.
Data Sources:
Computerized searches of MEDLINE and CINAHL databases, as well as references lists from published articles on infant sleep and feeding methods from 1982 to 2007. Search terms were "infant sleep" and "infant feeding."
Study Selection:
Literature was selected from refereed publications in the areas of nursing, medicine, psychology, sociology, and lactation. A total of 48 publications were used in this review.
Data Extraction:
Data were extracted using keywords pertinent to infant sleep parameters and the relationship to feeding method. A total of 161 articles were reviewed for inclusion, and only 37 met inclusion criteria. Eleven additional articles were retrieved from the references of these 37 articles.
Data Synthesis:
Articles that focused on early infant sleep development and sleep were utilized. Those that focused exclusively on premature or older infants or toddlers or whose primary focus was on sudden infant death syndrome were excluded.
Conclusions:
Infants have unique sleep patterns causing adjustment for new parents. Sleep is biopsychosocially influenced, and the interactions between parent and baby have a profound effect on the sleeping and feeding methods and patterns of the infant. When health care providers appreciate these influences and individual nuances of infant sleep, they can share information to appropriately guide and reassure the developing family.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares often...
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...

