Behavioral sleep intervention to reduce bedsharing prior to stem cell transplant

Sleep disturbance is common in young children who are otherwise healthy and even more so in children with cancer. To address sleep disturbance in early childhood, caregivers may use bedsharing to reduce stress. Although bedsharing is not typically discouraged in children over the age of 1 year, it may present a safety and infection control concern for youth preparing for stem cell transplantation.

We highlight the successful application of evidence-based sleep interventions to eliminate bedsharing before admission to the stem cell transplantation unit through 3 case examples of patients who were 2 years of age or younger diagnosed with cancer and preparing for stem cell transplantation.

The behavioral sleep interventions included sleep hygiene education, gradual fading, unmodified extinction, and graduated extinction.

When medically indicated and tailored to family preferences, behavioral interventions can effectively and efficiently eliminate bedsharing for young children preparing for stem cell transplantation.