Causes and correlates of frequent night awakenings in early childhood

Possible contribution of better maternal psychological well-being to the acquisition of sleeping through the night in infants during the early postpartum period

The objective of this study was to elucidate whether better maternal psychological well-being contributes to the acquisition of "sleeping through the night" (STN) in infants during the early postpartum period. Fifty-two primiparous mothers completed the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) in the third trimester (prenatal) and when the conceptional ages of their babies reached 8-9 weeks (hereafter, 2 months), 12-13 weeks (3 months), and 16-17 weeks (4 months). They also recorded babies' nocturnal sleep patterns in a timetable for 5 consecutive days each month postpartum. "Regular STN" was defined when the mean of longest nocturnal sleep duration for 5 consecutive days was > 8 h or between 6 and 8 h with < 1.0 nocturnal awakenings. According to these criteria, a total of 14 infants (27 %) acquired regular STN at 4 months (referred to as "STN infants"), with STN infants showing a marked increase in longest nocturnal sleep duration and a decrease in nocturnal awakenings from 2 to 3 months of age. The mothers of STN infants demonstrated steady reductions in postnatal GHQ-28 scores and had significantly lower prenatal GHQ-28 scores compared with the mothers of non-STN infants (3.7 ± 3.0 vs. 6.4 ± 4.1, p = 0.027). In random forest models for binomial classification, both prenatal and postnatal (at 4 months) GHQ-28 scores were identified as significant covariates for distinguishing STN infants, and other important covariates, including weeks of delivery, stepfamily, birth weight of the infant, and maternal co-sleeping at bedtime, were selected. Among these covariates, maternal co-sleeping at bedtime had relatively stronger correlations with both STN infants (r = - 0.440) and prenatal maternal GHQ-28 scores (r = 0.377). In conclusion, because prenatal maternal psychological well-being was thought to predict the acquisition of STN in infants, infants born from mothers with better psychological well-being appear to have some advantages in acquiring STN. These cross-lagged correlations suggest that the pathway from mothers to infants may be mediated by certain parenting behaviors, such as maternal co-sleeping at bedtime.

Examining factors associated with sleep quality in parents of children 4-10 years with autism spectrum disorder

PURPOSE

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder often report poorer sleep compared to parents of typically developing children. When parents do not obtain enough quality sleep, functioning may be compromised placing the onus of care on already stressed parents. However, improving sleep duration may not improve sleep quality and is not always feasible. This study aimed to measure sleep quality in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder, determine if stress and children's sleep are associated with sleep quality and whether resources, appraisals, and coping moderate these relationships.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multivariable regression was used to determine the effects of stress and children's sleep problems on sleep quality and test modifying effects.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores was 8.81 (3.76), with 77.6% of parents scoring above the clinical cut-off. Mean (SD) Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire scores was 54.03 (8.32), with 96.3% of parents rating their child's sleep above the clinical cut-off. Children's sleep was the only significant predictor and none of the expected effect modifiers were significant.

CONCLUSION

Children's sleep may be an important target to improve parent sleep quality but requires systematic assessment with interventional research. Implications for rehabilitationBoth parents and their 4-10-year-old children with ASD experience high levels of sleep disturbances.Clinicians can start the conversation early with parents about their children's sleep by providing them with information to increase awareness and recognize healthy sleep habits in their children.Clinicians are important in the assessment, management, and evaluation of pediatric sleep problems, which may have significant spillover effects on parents of children with ASD.There is a need for more resources and training to be available to clinicians to assess children and their parents for sleep problems, which could extend beyond the assessment of sleep and consider parent's daytime functioning and mental health.

Perspectives on Sleep from Multiethnic Community Parents, Pediatric Providers, and Childcare Providers

OBJECTIVE

To describe the perceptions of (1) parents, childcare, and health care providers regarding sleep health among multiethnic infants and toddlers living with socioeconomic adversity, (2) factors that contribute to sleep health and its consequences, and (3) best ways to promote sleep health in these children.

METHODS

Nested within a larger community-engaged mixed methods study, we used a descriptive qualitative design to describe the experience of multiethnic young parents who were raising 6- to 36-month-old children, pediatric health care providers, and childcare providers living and working in an urban under-resourced community. Semistructured interviews with 25 parents and 16 providers were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis by a 6-member research team. Interviews continued until themes were saturated.

RESULTS

Parent responses and provider responses resulted in overlapping and divergent findings. Common themes among all respondents were the importance of sleep, interest and desire for more sleep health information, and common environmental/social impediments to healthy family sleep. Divergent themes included the importance of bedtime routines and timing, views on the family bed, importance of naps, and healthy sleep aids. Childcare centers were suggested as good sites for sleep health promotion programs.

CONCLUSION

Sleep is a topic of interest and importance for young families. There are unique family challenges to be considered in any sleep health promotion program tailored to the needs of the community. The voices of parents and community providers are valuable assets informing the development of novel family-friendly approaches for decreasing sleep disparities and improving the health of young children and families.

Development of a consensus statement on the role of the family in the physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviours of children and youth

BACKGROUND

Children and youth who meet the physical activity, sedentary, and sleep behaviour recommendations in the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines are more likely to have desirable physical and psychosocial health outcomes. Yet, few children and youth actually meet the recommendations. The family is a key source of influence that can affect lifestyle behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process used to develop the Consensus Statement on the Role of the Family in the Physical Activity, Sedentary, and Sleep Behaviours of Children and Youth (0-17 years) and present, explain, substantiate, and discuss the final Consensus Statement.

METHODS

The development of the Consensus Statement included the establishment of a multidisciplinary Expert Panel, completion of six reviews (three literature, two scoping, one systematic review of reviews), custom data analyses of Statistics Canada's Canadian Health Measures Survey, integration of related research identified by Expert Panel members, a stakeholder consultation, establishment of consensus, and the development of a media, public relations, communications and launch plan.

RESULTS

Evidence from the literature reviews provided substantial support for the importance of family on children's movement behaviours and highlighted the importance of inclusion of the entire family system as a source of influence and promotion of healthy child and youth movement behaviours. The Expert Panel incorporated the collective evidence from all reviews, the custom analyses, other related research identified, and stakeholder survey feedback, to develop a conceptual model and arrive at the Consensus Statement: Families can support children and youth in achieving healthy physical activity, sedentary and sleep behaviours by encouraging, facilitating, modelling, setting expectations and engaging in healthy movement behaviours with them. Other sources of influence are important (e.g., child care, school, health care, community, governments) and can support families in this pursuit.

CONCLUSION

Family is important for the support and promotion of healthy movement behaviours of children and youth. This Consensus Statement serves as a comprehensive, credible, and current synopsis of related evidence, recommendations, and resources for multiple stakeholders.

Joining Parents' Bed at Night and Overweight among 2- to 6-Year-Old Children - Results from the 'Healthy Start' Randomized Intervention

OBJECTIVE

Parental and child co-sleeping has been suggested as a risk factor for short sleep duration and poor sleep quality that may lead to overweight. We examined if joining parent's bed during night was associated with child overweight.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from the 'Healthy Start' study including 635 2- to 6-year-old Danish children, who were all considered obesity prone. Of these, 496 children had complete information on BMI and whether the child joined parents' bed during night and if so, how frequently. International cut-offs for overweight according to age and gender were applied, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). Analyses were adjusted for the child's age and gender, overall family stress, parental educational level, and parental BMI.

RESULTS

Children who did not join their parent's bed were more likely to be overweight compared to children who did (OR 1.75 (95% CI 0.99-3.10)). Children who rarely joined their parents' bed had OR 2.74 of being overweight (95% CI 1.01-7.44) compared to children who joined every night.

CONCLUSION

Children who rarely joined parents' bed during night were almost three times more likely to be overweight than those who joined every night.

Waking up too early - the consequences of preterm birth on sleep development

Good quality sleep of sufficient duration is vital for optimal physiological function and our health. Sleep deprivation is associated with impaired neurocognitive function and emotional control, and increases the risk for cardiometabolic diseases, obesity and cancer. Sleep develops during fetal life with the emergence of a recognisable pattern of sleep states in the preterm fetus associated with the development, maturation and connectivity within neural networks in the brain. Despite the physiological importance of sleep, surprisingly little is known about how sleep develops in individuals born preterm. Globally, an estimated 15 million babies are born preterm (<37 weeks gestation) each year, and these babies are at significant risk of neural injury and impaired brain development. This review discusses how sleep develops during fetal and neonatal life, how preterm birth impacts on sleep development to adulthood, and the factors which may contribute to impaired brain and sleep development, leading to altered neurocognitive, behavioural and motor capabilities in the infant and child. Going forward, the challenge is to identify specific risk factors for impaired sleep development in preterm babies to allow for the design of interventions that will improve the quality and quantity of sleep throughout life.

Sleep, Depression, and Fatigue in Late Postpartum

PURPOSE

To study the relation of infant characteristics and home environment on maternal sleep, depression, and fatigue in late postpartum.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Forty-two healthy mother-infant dyads completed a home-based study at infant age 32 weeks. Maternal measures included Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) sleep and wake disturbance, depression, and fatigue scales. Home regularity was assessed using the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS). Infant sleep and regulation were measured respectively by the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) and Infant-Toddler Symptom Checklist (ITSC).

RESULTS

Significant correlations among maternal sleep and wake disturbance, fatigue, and depression were detected (r = .519 to .746, p < .01), but not with infant variables. Home regularity was significantly related with maternal variables (r = .597 to .653, p < .01).

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Regularity of the home environment appears to contribute to maternal sleep, depression, and fatigue. Implications for intervention include establishment of daily routines and household management to improve regularity and consequently improve maternal outcomes.

The role of infant sleep in intergenerational transmission of trauma

INTRODUCTION

Children of parents who experienced trauma often present emotional and behavioral problems, a phenomenon named inter-generational transmission of trauma (IGTT). Combined with antenatal factors, parenting and the home environment contribute to the development and maintenance of sleep problems in children. In turn, infant sleep difficulty predicts behavioral and emotional problems later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether infant sleep problems predict early behavioral problems indicative of IGTT.

METHODS

184 first-time mothers (ages 18-47) participated. N=83 had a history of childhood abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD+); 38 women reported childhood abuse but did not meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD (PTSD-); and the control group (N=63) had neither a history of abuse nor psychopathology (CON). Depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulty were assessed in the mothers at 4 months postpartum. Infant sleep was assessed using the Child Behavior Sleep Questionnaire (CSHQ). Outcome measures included the Parent Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) at 4 months and the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) at 18 months.

RESULTS

Infants of PTSD+ mothers scored higher on the CSHQ and had more separation anxiety around bedtime than PTSD- and CON, and the severity of their symptoms was correlated with the degree of sleep disturbance. Maternal postpartum depression symptoms mediated impaired mother-infant bonding, while infant sleep disturbance contributed independently to impaired bonding. Mother-infant bonding at 4 months predicted more behavioral problems at 18 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Infant sleep difficulties and maternal mood play independent roles in infant-mother bonding disturbance, which in turn predicts behavioral problems at 18 months.