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An overview of reviews for preventing and treating sleep problems in infants
Author(s) -
Drozd Filip,
Leksbø Turid Skjerve,
Størksen Hege Therese,
Wilhelmsen Cathrine Elisabeth Weyde,
Slinning Kari
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.16475
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , bedtime , psycinfo , systematic review , sleep (system call) , medline , alternative medicine , peer review , intervention (counseling) , public health , pediatrics , family medicine , psychiatry , nursing , pathology , political science , computer science , law , operating system
Aim Parents and professionals receive conflicting recommendations about management of infant sleep problems. The aim of this umbrella review was to provide an overview of summarised research on the prevention and treatment of sleep problems in infants (0–1 year), content of the interventions and the conditions under which they are delivered. Methods The umbrella review included five systematic reviews of 24 individual studies, mainly randomised controlled trials. Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, Cochrane, Campbell, Epistemonikos, PDQ‐Evidence, IN SUM and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, for reviews published during 2010–2021. Results The systematic reviews showed that behavioural interventions increased sleep in infants and parents. Interventions entailed reducing parental disturbances during sleep onset and enabling the infant to fall asleep and maintain sleep on their own. Knowledge about infant sleep and the establishment of positive bedtime routines seemed crucial for preventing and treating sleep difficulties. The interventions can be delivered in a few sessions, typically one‐on‐one during the postnatal period. Conclusion Behavioural interventions can be recommended and adapted to the individual family. Positive outcomes for the infant and the family depend on a close and coordinated collaboration between child health clinics, community psychologists, general physicians and other services.