Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Consideration of Maternal Developmental Needs in the Treatment of Infant Sleep Problems

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Clinical Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Parents often seek help because of difficulties their infants have transitioning to and maintaining sleep. Sleep problems almost inevitably adversely impact parental sleep which can affect the parent’s psychological state and the parent–infant relationship. This paper examines interventions for infant sleep problems within a context that includes recognition of maternal developmental needs. Clinical case material of mothers in different stages of adult development illustrates ways in which maternal developmental needs both influenced their children’s sleep patterns that became problematic and the resolution of those sleep difficulties. An approach to infant sleep problems that encompasses the mother’s developmental stage can broaden our understanding of mothers’ reactions to their infants’ sleep and be used to inform treatment. Developing sleep recommendations for infants and toddlers within a context that focuses on the developmental needs of both mother and child has the potential for improving sleep and promoting more positive parent–child relationships.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anders, T. F. (1994). Infant sleep, nighttime relationships, and attachment. Psychiatry, 57, 11–21.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, K. L., Van Haeringen, A. R., Dadds, M. R., & Cash, R. (1998). Sleep deprivation or postnatal depression in later infancy: Separating the chicken from the egg. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 34, 260–262.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R. (2008). “Ghosts in the bedroom” – psychodynamic aspects in the treatment of sleep disorders. In M. Papousek, M. Schieche, & H. Wurmser (Eds.), Disorders of behavioral and emotional regulation in the first years of life (pp. 217–227). Washington, DC: Zero to Three Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, J. K., Hiscock, H., Hampton, A., & Wake, M. (2007). Sleep problems in young infants and maternal mental and physical health. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43, 66–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, F., Bayer, J., Le, H. N. D., Mensah, F., Cann, W., & Hiscock, H. (2012). Baby business: A randomised controlled trial of a universal parenting program to prevent early infant sleep and cry problems and associated parental depression. BMC Pediatrics, 12, 13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. F., Parker, K. P., & Montgomery, G. L. (2004). Sleep in infants and young children: Part two: Common sleep problems. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 18, 130–137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daws, D. (1993). Through the night. London: Free Association Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, C., & Ross, L. (2005). Relationships among infant sleep patterns, maternal fatigue, and development of depressive symptomatology. Birth, 32, 187–193.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Galland, B. C., Taylor, B. J., Elder, D. E., & Herbison, P. (2012). Normal sleep patterns in infants and children: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 16, 213–222.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gelman, V. S., & King, N. J. (2001). Wellbeing of mothers with children exhibiting sleep disturbance. Australian Journal of Psychology, 53, 18–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germo, G. R., Chang, E. S., Keller, M. A., & Goldberg, W. A. (2007). Child sleep arrangements and family life: Perspectives from mothers and fathers. Infant and Child Development, 16, 433–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, W. A., Lucas-Thompson, R. G., Germo, G. R., Keller, M. A., Davis, E. P., & Sandman, C. A. (2013). Eye of the beholder? Maternal mental health and the quality of infant sleep. Social Science and Medicine, 79, 101–108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goodlin-Jones, B. L., & Anders, T. F. (2004). Sleep disorders. In R. DelCarmen-Wiggins & A. Carter (Eds.), Handbook of infant, toddler, and preschool mental health assessment (pp. 271–288). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiscock, H. (2010). Rock-a-bye baby? Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14, 85–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hiscock, H., Bayer, J., Gold, L., Hampton, A., Ukoumunne, O. C., & Wake, M. (2007). Improving infant sleep and maternal mental health: A cluster randomized trial. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 92, 952–958.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jenni, O. G., & Carskadon, M. A. (2007). Sleep behavior and sleep regulation from infancy through adolescence: Normative aspects. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2, 321–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lam, P., Hiscock, H., & Wake, M. (2003). Outcomes of infant sleep problems: A longitudinal study of sleep, behavior, and maternal well-being. Pediatrics, 111, e203–e207.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loutzenhiser, L., Ahlquist, A., & Hoffman, J. (2011). Infant and maternal factors associated with maternal perceptions of infant sleep problems. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29, 460–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozoff, B., & Zuckerman, B. (1988). Sleep problems in children. Pediatrics in Review, 10, 17–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meltzer, L. J., & Mindell, J. A. (2007). Relationship between child sleep disturbances and maternal sleep, mood, and parenting stress: A pilot study. Journal of Family Psychology, 21, 67–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., Kuhn, B., Lewin, D. S., Meltzer, L. J., & Sadeh, A. (2006). Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. Sleep, 29, 1263–1276.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., & Owens, J. (2003). A clinical guide to pediatric sleep: Diagnosis and management of sleep problems. PA: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., Sadeh, A., Kohyama, J., & How, T. H. (2010). Parental behaviors and sleep outcomes in infants and toddlers: A cross-cultural comparison. Sleep Medicine, 11, 393–399.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mindell, J. A., Telofski, L. S., Wiegand, B., & Kurtz, E. S. (2009). A nightly bedtime routine: Impact on sleep in young children and maternal mood. Sleep, 32, 599–606.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Morgenthaler, T. I., Owens, J., Alessi, C., Boehlecke, B., Brown, T. M., Coleman, J., et al. (2006). Practice parameters for behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children. Sleep, 29, 1277–1281.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrell, J. M. B. (1999). The role of maternal cognitions in infant sleep problems as assessed by a new instrument, the maternal cognitions about Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 40, 247–258.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, J., & Burnham, M. M. (2009). Sleep disorders. In C. H. Zeanah (Ed.), Handbook of infant mental health (3rd ed., pp. 362–376). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owens, J. A., Palermo, T. M., & Rosen, C. L. (2002). Overview of current management of sleep disturbances in children: II- behavioral interventions. Current Therapeutic Research, 63, B38–B52. Supplement B.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, A., & Anders, T. F. (1993). Infant sleep problems: Origins, assessment interventions. Infant Mental Health Journal, 14, 17–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, A., Mindell, J., & Rivera, L. (2011). “My child has a sleep problem”: A cross-cultural comparison of parental definitions. Sleep Medicine, 12, 478–482.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, A., Tikotzky, L., & Scher, A. (2010). Parenting and infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14, 89–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scher, A. (2008). Maternal separation anxiety as a regulator of infants’ sleep. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 618–625.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schieche, M., Rupprecht, C., & Papousek, M. (2008). Sleep disorders: Current results and clinical experience. In M. Papousek, M. Schieche, & H. Wurmser (Eds.), Disorders of behavioral and emotional regulation in the first years of life (pp. 117–140). Washington, DC: Zero to Three Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • St. James-Roberts, I. (2012). The origins, prevention and treatment of infant crying and sleeping problems: An evidence-based guide for healthcare professionals and the families they support. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teti, D. M., Kim, B., Mayer, G., & Countermine, M. (2010). Maternal emotional availability at bedtime predicts infant sleep quality. Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 307–315.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J. H., Moore, M., & Mindell, J. A. (2014). Controversies in behavioral treatment of sleep problems in young children. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 9, 251–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Touchette, E., Petit, D., Tremblay, R. E., & Montplaisir, J. Y. (2009). Risk factors and consequences of early childhood dyssomnias: New perspectives. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 13, 355–361.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wake, M., Morton-Allen, E., Poulakis, Z., Hiscock, H., Gallagher, S., & Oberklaid, F. (2006). Prevalence, stability, and outcomes of cry-fuss and sleep problems in the first 2 years of life: Prospective community-based study. Pediatrics, 117, 836–842.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Warren, S. L., Howe, G., Simmens, S. J., & Dahl, R. E. (2006). Maternal depressive symptoms and child sleep: Models of mutual influence over time. Development and Psychopathology, 18, 1–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggs, L. (2007). Are children getting enough sleep? Implications for parents. Sociological research online. 12, from http://www.socresonline.org.uk/12/5/6.html.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women and Infants Hospital, Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, and Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Jean E. Twomey

Authors
  1. Jean E. Twomey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean E. Twomey.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Twomey, J.E. A Consideration of Maternal Developmental Needs in the Treatment of Infant Sleep Problems. Clin Soc Work J 44, 309–318 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-015-0554-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-015-0554-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation