How do parents approach nighttime infant care? A grounded theory

Area of Science:

• Parenting and Family Studies
• Developmental Psychology
• Sociology of the Family

Background:

• Nighttime infant caregiving organization and sharing in parent dyads, especially across diverse family structures and gender roles, is understudied.
• Understanding these dynamics is crucial for parental well-being and infant sleep.
• Existing research often overlooks the complexities of shared nighttime responsibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a grounded theory explaining how parent dyads manage nighttime infant care.
• To explore caregiving practices, decision-making processes, and their impact on parental roles and well-being.
• To investigate how diverse family structures influence nighttime caregiving strategies.

Main Methods:

• A constructive grounded theory approach was employed.
• Virtual semi-structured interviews were conducted with parent dyads (n=30) with children under two years old.
• Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify core categories and theoretical frameworks.

Main Results:

• The core category identified was "navigating priorities," reflecting the tension between competing demands.
• Parent dyads employed two main strategies: "staying the course" or "changing lanes" in response to tension.
• The "dyadic context," encompassing individual characteristics and evolving family experiences, significantly shaped these responses.

Conclusions:

• Dyadic context is pivotal in how couples manage nighttime care priorities and adapt strategies.
• Flexible decision-making and active partner engagement in adapting to changing needs promote mutually supportive caregiving.
• Findings offer insights into shared parenting dynamics in diverse families, informing interventions for parental and infant sleep and well-being.