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Sleep initiation patterns and their influence on sleep quality in infants and young children

Zhuo-Ya Liu1, Yu-Qin Guo1, Juan-Juan Song1

  • 1Department of Child Health Care, Shenzhen Bao'an Women's and Children's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518100, China.

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics
|March 30, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Most young children initiate sleep with feeding or parental presence. Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding to sleep increases nighttime awakenings, highlighting the impact of sleep initiation on infant sleep quality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep initiation patterns are crucial for infant and young child development.
  • Understanding these patterns can inform interventions to improve sleep quality.
  • Parenting behaviors significantly influence infant sleep.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate infant and young child sleep initiation patterns.
  • To identify factors influencing these sleep initiation methods.
  • To determine the impact of sleep initiation on sleep quality.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 521 infants and young children (0-35 months).
  • Data collected via questionnaires on family background, parenting, and sleep quality.
  • Multivariate logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were employed.

Main Results:

  • 49.5% initiated sleep with breastfeeding/bottle-feeding, 11.9% rocked/held, 7.5% independently, 31.1% with parents.
  • Younger age and breastfeeding were linked to feeding/rocking initiation.
  • Breastfeeding/bottle-feeding initiation correlated with more nighttime awakenings.

Conclusions:

  • Common sleep initiation methods include feeding, rocking, or parental presence.
  • Sleep initiation is associated with child's age and breastfeeding status.
  • Breastfeeding/bottle-feeding at sleep onset increases nighttime awakenings.
Abstract

Keywords:
Brief Infant Sleep QuestionnaireInfant and young childSleep initiation patternSleep quality

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