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Published on: October 2, 2019
Early sleep intervention for improving infant sleep quality: a randomized controlled trial, preliminary result
Auraya Sinthong1, Dussadee Ngernlangtawee2
1Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
Insights
Early sleep intervention for infants at 4 months significantly improves nighttime sleep duration and reduces night waking. This intervention is recommended for well-child care to enhance infant sleep quality.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Sleep Medicine
- Child Development
Background:
- Infant sleep quality is crucial within the first six months of life.
- Evaluating the impact of early sleep interventions on infant nighttime sleep is essential.
- This study addresses the need for evidence-based strategies to improve infant sleep.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of an early sleep intervention on nighttime sleep quality in infants.
- To determine if a 4-month-old infant sleep intervention leads to better sleep outcomes.
- To provide data supporting the integration of sleep guidance into routine pediatric care.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving infants aged 4 months ± 2 weeks.
- Comparison between an early sleep intervention group and a usual care group.
- Sleep variables assessed via parental interviews at baseline and 6 months, analyzed using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- 306 infants were analyzed (148 intervention, 158 usual care).
- The intervention group showed significantly longer nighttime sleep duration (585.2 min vs. 496.1 min) and shorter night waking (61.0 min vs. 89.7 min).
- Infants receiving early intervention had 2.39 times higher odds of achieving ≥4 hours of continuous night sleep by 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Early sleep intervention at 4 months of age is effective in improving infant sleep quality.
- The findings support recommending early sleep interventions as part of standard well-child care.
- Implementing such interventions can lead to significant improvements in infant sleep patterns.
Background:
Healthy sleep issues should provide to family within first 6 months of infant's life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early sleep intervention on nighttime sleep quality.
Methods:
Eligible infants aged 4 months ± 2 weeks were randomized to receive early sleep intervention or usual care. Data on sleep variables were obtained via parental interview at baseline and 6 months of age. Using logistic regression to analyze the efficacy of early sleep intervention.
Results:
At baseline, 335 eligible infants were enrolled and randomized. In total, 306 participants were final analyzed: early sleep intervention group (n = 148) and the usual care group (n = 158). The early sleep intervention group had a significantly longer nighttime sleep duration and a shorter night waking duration than the usual care group (585.20 ± 80.38 min vs. 496.14 ± 87.78 min, p < .001 and 61.01 ± 36.38 min vs. 89.72 ± 45.54 min, p < .001). At 6 months of age, the early sleep intervention group had a longer night sleep duration (≥ 4 h/time) than the usual care group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.34-4.28).
Conclusions:
Early sleep intervention should be recommended to infants at 4 months of age as a part of well childcare to improve infant sleep quality.
Trial Registration:
Thai Clinical Trials Registry (thaiclinicaltrial.org). Retrospective registered TCTR20230117001 (17/01/2023).
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