Preventing Sleeping and Crying Problems
Can sleeping and crying problems in infants be prevented?
This project is a randomised controlled trial of the Baby Business intervention program, which aims to prevent sleeping and crying problems in young infants by giving parents information about normal baby behaviours and providing practical strategies to deal with them.
This project is a randomised controlled trial of the Baby Business intervention program, which aims to prevent sleeping and crying problems in young infants by giving parents information about normal baby behaviours and providing practical strategies to deal with them.
Evidence suggests that preventing infant sleeping and crying difficulties has the potential to reduce the incidence of maternal and paternal depression, problems in family functioning and child abuse, as well as the costs associated with frequent use of health services. This study examined the effectiveness of a universal program developed by health professionals at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne and the Parenting Research Centre.
The trial recruited its target of 750 families. Families allocated to the intervention group received a booklet, a DVD, an individual telephone consultation and a parenting group. Content focused on settling strategies, looking out for tired signs, wrapping a baby to encourage settling, parental self care, and information about normal infant crying patterns. Advice on where to get further help was also provided. Families allocated to the control group received the ‘usual care’ provided to all families through the Maternal and Child Health service.
The researchers will compare findings between the two groups to see whether or not sleep and crying problems, and associated postnatal depression symptoms, were able to be prevented in the intervention group. Outcomes examined at three points from birth to six months include:
- patterns of infant’s sleep and crying (using behaviour diaries)
- parents’ perceptions about their infant’s sleep or crying patterns
- parents’ perceptions about the amount of social and family support they receive
- levels of postnatal depression symptoms in parents
Findings will be reported in early 2012 when all data has been collected.
Read more detailed information about this project
Partners for the Preventing sleeping and crying problems research |
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University of london |
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