Jodi A Mindell1, Erin S Leichman2, Christina Lee3, Ariel A Williamson4, Russel M Walters3. 1. Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Electronic address: jmindell@sju.edu. 2. Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA, United States. 3. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Skillman, NJ, United States. 4. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Institution of a consistent bedtime routine has been demonstrated to improve sleep in young children within two weeks. However, no studies have investigated the rate of this change and when most change occurs. The purpose of this study was to examine the nightly change in infant sleep and maternal perceptions after implementing a bedtime routine. METHODS:Mothers (n=134) and their infant (8-18 months) were randomly assigned to implementation of a bedtime routine intervention for a two-week period. RESULTS: Two-level piecewise linear growth models showed that the intervention resulted in the most rapid change in the first three nights of the intervention across sleep outcomes, including sleep onset latency, the frequency and duration of nighttime awakenings, sleep consolidation, and maternal perceptions of bedtime ease, sleep quality, and infant mood. No significant additional improvement in sleep onset latency emerged after these first three nights, whereas small additional improvements occurred for all other outcomes throughout the remainder of the intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that sleep disturbances in infants and toddlers can be quickly ameliorated within just a few nights after implementation of a consistent bedtime routine, including a bath, massage, and quiet activities. Future research should consider the potential mechanisms behind these relatively fast improvements in sleep, such as reduced household chaos or physiological changes (e.g. core body temperature, cortisol).
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Institution of a consistent bedtime routine has been demonstrated to improve sleep in young children within two weeks. However, no studies have investigated the rate of this change and when most change occurs. The purpose of this study was to examine the nightly change in infant sleep and maternal perceptions after implementing a bedtime routine. METHODS: Mothers (n=134) and their infant (8-18 months) were randomly assigned to implementation of a bedtime routine intervention for a two-week period. RESULTS: Two-level piecewise linear growth models showed that the intervention resulted in the most rapid change in the first three nights of the intervention across sleep outcomes, including sleep onset latency, the frequency and duration of nighttime awakenings, sleep consolidation, and maternal perceptions of bedtime ease, sleep quality, and infant mood. No significant additional improvement in sleep onset latency emerged after these first three nights, whereas small additional improvements occurred for all other outcomes throughout the remainder of the intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that sleep disturbances in infants and toddlers can be quickly ameliorated within just a few nights after implementation of a consistent bedtime routine, including a bath, massage, and quiet activities. Future research should consider the potential mechanisms behind these relatively fast improvements in sleep, such as reduced household chaos or physiological changes (e.g. core body temperature, cortisol).
Authors: Lauren B Covington; Valerie E Rogers; Bridget Armstrong; Carla L Storr; Maureen M Black Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2019-06-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Chelsea L Kracht; Leanne M Redman; Patrick H Casey; Rebecca A Krukowski; Aline Andres Journal: Child Obes Date: 2021-01-20 Impact factor: 2.992
Authors: Ryan E Rhodes; Michelle D Guerrero; Leigh M Vanderloo; Kheana Barbeau; Catherine S Birken; Jean-Philippe Chaput; Guy Faulkner; Ian Janssen; Sheri Madigan; Louise C Mâsse; Tara-Leigh McHugh; Megan Perdew; Kelly Stone; Jacob Shelley; Nora Spinks; Katherine A Tamminen; Jennifer R Tomasone; Helen Ward; Frank Welsh; Mark S Tremblay Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2020-06-16 Impact factor: 6.457