Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood
08:20

Measuring Neural Mechanisms Underlying Sleep-Dependent Memory Consolidation During Naps in Early Childhood

Published on: October 2, 2019

12.7K

Parental help-seeking for sleep in children aged 0-5 years: A systematic review

Abigail J Ford1, Grace E Vincent2, Tessa Benveniste2

  • 1Appleton Institute and School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia, 160 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia.

Sleep Medicine Reviews
|April 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Many parents seek help for their young child

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Healthy sleep is crucial for child development, immune function, and emotional well-being.
  • Sleep problems are common in young children (0-5 years), necessitating parental help-seeking for effective intervention.
  • Understanding parental help-seeking behaviors is key to improving access to timely sleep support.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review parental help-seeking for child sleep problems in children aged 0-5 years.
  • To identify where parents seek help for their child's sleep.
  • To explore factors influencing parental help-seeking behaviors for pediatric sleep issues.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted across CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO.
  • Included studies focused on original research involving caregivers of children aged 0-5 years and their help-seeking for sleep.
  • Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.

Main Results:

  • Between 47% and 67% of parents sought help for their child's sleep issues.
  • Parents utilized both formal (e.g., general practitioners) and informal (e.g., online forums) sources for sleep information.
  • Help-seeking was influenced by perceived support accessibility, resource availability, fear of judgment, and parental knowledge.

Conclusions:

  • A significant gap exists in accessible, evidence-based, and tailored sleep resources for parents of young children.
  • Barriers to obtaining effective guidance for pediatric sleep problems are frequently encountered by parents.
  • Future research should investigate parental preferences and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of current sleep support options.

Keywords:
Child sleepChild sleep problemsEarly childhoodFormal help-seekingInformal help-seekingParental help-seeking

More Related Videos

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges08:22

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

16.1K
Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults07:40

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults

Published on: January 26, 2019

8.4K

Related Concept Videos

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
573
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
2.7K
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
924
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
1.3K
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
801
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
945