Management of infant sleep problems in a residential unit

Child Care Health Dev. 1994 Mar-Apr;20(2):89-100. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.1994.tb00856.x.

Abstract

Torrens House provides a short residential programme for families with a baby (8-12 months of age) identified by parents as having a sleep problem such as waking frequently at night and being difficult to settle. The programme involves the promotion of infant self-settling by the use of a controlled crying technique, together with wrapping, cessation of night feeds and establishment of a day-time routine. Twenty families (with 23 babies) were followed through the programme and for 3 months afterwards. There were significant decreases in the number of times the babies woke, the number of night-feeds and the length of time awake at night at 1 month follow-up, with a reduction in depressive symptomatology of the parents and a perceived improvement in their infants' behaviour. Twenty of the 23 babies were sleeping well at 3 month follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Behavior Therapy*
  • Family Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Patient Admission
  • Patient Care Team
  • Residential Facilities*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
  • South Australia