The Mother-Infant Sleep Nexus: Night-Time Experiences in Early Infancy and Later Outcomes

Ball, Helen L.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-27393-4_9

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Pre‐natal fantasies of a baby sleeping soundly in his/her carefully prepared crib are rarely realized; yet unrealistic expectations are unintentionally reinforced by clinicians and well‐wishers; even strangers take an interest in whether new babies they encounter are “good,” (meaning sleeping “through the night”). The Western cultural obsession with infant sleep leads parents to wonder, sooner or later, whether their infant's sleep patterns are “normal,” what they could or should be doing differently, and whether something they are not doing (or buying) would help their baby to fall asleep more quickly, to sleep for longer, or more deeply, or through the night (Ball, 2020; Barry, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When infant sleep behaviors fail to meet social expectations parents begin to question whether their baby has a “sleep problem” that they must fix (Rudzik & Ball, 2016) or worse—is wilfully refusing to sleep—night‐time becomes a battle‐ground pitting the parental pursuit of a “decent night's sleep” against babies' needs for contact, comfort and regular night‐time feeds (Ball, 2020). Consequently, babies may be medicalized, medicated, neglected and, in extreme cases, abused for displaying typical human‐infant behavior (waking at night, requiring night‐feeding, crying when left alone) (Douglas & Hill, 2011; Owens et al, 2003; Reijneveld, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biologically normal sleep in the mother‐infant dyad

Rudzik

Ball

2021

American J Hum Biol

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Objectives We examine infant sleep from evolutionary, historico‐cultural, and statistical/epidemiological perspectives and explore the distinct conceptions of “normal” produced by each. We use data from the “Sleeping Like a Baby” study to illustrate how these perspectives influence the ideals and practices of new parents. Methods The “Sleeping Like a Baby” study investigated maternal–infant sleep in north‐east England. Sleep data for exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) and formula‐feeding (EFF) dyads were captured every 2 weeks from 4 to 18 weeks postpartum through actigraphy and maternal report. Mothers also reported their infant sleep ideals and practices. Results explore objective and maternally‐reported infant sleep parameters, and concordance of maternal ideals and practices with public health guidance. Results Comparison of sleep measures showed that mothers overestimate infant sleep duration compared with actigraphy; EFF mothers' reports were significantly more inaccurate than those of EBF mothers. For infants moved to a separate bedroom, maternally‐reported sleep increases were not borne out by actigraphy. Across the study period, concordance of maternal ideal sleep location with public health recommendations occurred on average for 54% of mothers, while concordance in practice fell from 75% at 4–8 weeks to 67% at 14–18 weeks. Discordance for EBF dyads occurred due to bedsharing, and for EFF dyads due to infants sleeping in a room alone. Conclusions Beliefs about “normal” infant sleep influence parents' perceptions and practices. Clinical and scientific infant sleep discourses reinforce dominant societal norms and perpetuate these beliefs, but biological and evolutionary views on infant sleep norms are beginning to gain traction with parents and health practitioners.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biologically normal sleep in the mother‐infant dyad

Rudzik

Ball

2021

American J Hum Biol

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Infant sleep and anxiety disorders in early childhood: Findings from an Australian pregnancy cohort study

MacMillan,

Bourke,

Watson

et al. 2024

Infant and Child Development

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Emphasis on continuous infant sleep overnight may be driven by parental concern of risk to child mental health outcomes. The Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS) examined whether infant sleep at 6 and 12 months postpartum predicts anxiety disorders at 2–4 years, and whether this is moderated by maternal depression, active physical comforting (APC) or maternal cognitions about infant sleep. Data included 349 women and infants. Infant sleep was measured using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire and child anxiety disorders by the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. The risk of developing generalised anxiety or social phobia disorders at 3–4 years was reduced by 42% (p = 0.001) and 31% (p = 0.001), respectively, for a one standard deviation increase in total sleep at 12 months. No other infant sleep outcomes were associated. Maternal depression, APC and cognitions about infant sleep did not significantly moderate these relationships. Focus may need to be on total infant sleep, rather than when sleep is achieved.Highlights To assess whether infant sleep outcomes (i.e., frequency of nocturnal wakes; nocturnal wakefulness and total sleep per day) at 6 and 12 months predict early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years of age. Maternally reported infant sleep outcomes were not associated with the risk of developing early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years. It may be total infant sleep, irrespective of when sleep occurs or night waking and, independently, active physical comforting that requires further investigation.

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Digital health tools to support parents with parent-infant sleep and mental well-being

Ball

Keegan

2022

npj Digit. Med.

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Digital technology is increasingly important in people’s lives, particularly for new parents as it allows them to access information, stay connected to peers and offers them seductive solutions for improving infant sleep and parental well-being. Digital technology has been developed to support parents in the following four ways: (1) providing digital information on infant sleep, (2) offering targeted support for night-time care, (3) managing infant sleep and (4) monitoring infant sleep and safety. Evidence on the effectiveness of these strategies is varied and there are concerns regarding the reliability of information, use of personal data, commercial exploitation of parents, and the effects of replacing caregiver presence with digital technology.

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The Mother-Infant Sleep Nexus: Night-Time Experiences in Early Infancy and Later Outcomes

Cited by 4 publications

References 78 publications

Biologically normal sleep in the mother‐infant dyad

Biologically normal sleep in the mother‐infant dyad

Infant sleep and anxiety disorders in early childhood: Findings from an Australian pregnancy cohort study

Digital health tools to support parents with parent-infant sleep and mental well-being

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