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Bedtime and naptime routines for young infants: Associations with family sleep outcomes

Jodi A Mindell1, Erin S Leichman2, Mikayla Carson2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Sleep Health
|June 3, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Establishing bedtime routines for infants is linked to improved baby sleep and reduced parental sleep disturbance. These routines are well-liked and perceived as beneficial for sleep and bonding.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Bedtime routines are known to improve sleep and well-being in older children.
  • Limited research exists on the prevalence and impact of routines in young infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of bedtime and naptime routines in infants aged 1-15 weeks.
  • To investigate the association between these routines and sleep outcomes for both infants and parents.

Main Methods:

  • Online questionnaire administered to parents of 135 infants (1-15 weeks old).
  • Utilized the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised for infant sleep patterns.
  • Assessed parent sleep using the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Scale and Sleep-related Impairment Scale.

Main Results:

  • 62% of infants had a bedtime routine; 20% had a naptime routine.
  • Infants with bedtime routines slept longer overnight and had fewer/shorter awakenings.
  • Parents reported decreased sleep disturbance and enhanced bonding with infants having bedtime routines.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep routines are well-liked, easy to implement, and beneficial for infant sleep and parent-infant bonding.
  • Bedtime routines correlate with better infant sleep consolidation and reduced parental sleep issues.
  • Pediatricians recommending sleep routines may improve overall family sleep outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
Bedtime routineInfant sleepNaptime routineNewborn sleepParent sleep

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