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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
The incidence of sleeping problems in preterm and fullterm infants discharged from neonatal special care units: an
Insights
Infant sleep problems are common, but prematurity is less influential than caretaking behaviors. This study tracked sleep patterns in preterm and fullterm infants for five years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Parental reports indicate frequent infant sleep disturbances.
- Preterm infants often experience unique challenges post-birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and stability of sleep problems in preterm infants compared to fullterm infants.
- To analyze sleep behavior over the first five years of life.
- To identify factors influencing infant sleep issues.
Main Methods:
- Prospective epidemiological study design.
- Inclusion of very preterm, preterm, and fullterm infants admitted to special care baby units (SCBU).
- Comparison group of healthy term infants.
- Longitudinal tracking of sleep behavior up to 5 years of age.
Main Results:
- Preterm infants showed fewer and shorter night wakings at 5 months.
- No significant differences in sleep behavior were observed at 20 and 56 months compared to healthy term children.
- Parental interventions like co-sleeping and extended bedtime routines correlated with increased night waking and parental distress.
- Night waking stability was similar between ex-SCBU graduates and healthy fullterm infants.
Conclusions:
- Infant sleep problems are influenced more by caretaking behaviors than by prematurity or special care experiences.
- Parental strategies can impact infant sleep patterns and parental well-being.
- Neurological immaturity and special care history play a lesser role in long-term sleep development.
Abstract:
Anecdotal reports have suggested that sleeping problems are a frequent complaint from parents of preterm infants. This prospective epidemiological study examined the incidence and stability of sleeping problems of very preterm (< 32 weeks gestation at birth), preterm (32-36 weeks gestation) and fullterm infants, all admitted to special care baby units (SCBU) after birth, in comparison to healthy term infants over the first 5 years of life. Preterm infants were found to have fewer and shorter night-wakings at 5 months. No differences in sleeping behaviour compared with healthy term children were found at 20 and 56 months of age. Similar significant, and moderate, stability of nightwaking from one age to the next were found for exSCBU-graduates and healthy fullterm infants. Parental interventions such as staying with the child until sleep and taking the infant into bed af night were related to nightwaking problems and increased parental distress. It is concluded that prematurity, and thus neurological immaturity and special care experience are less important than caretaking behaviour in the development of sleeping problems in both preterm and fullterm infants.
