A cross-sectional study on the relationship between infant sleep, temperament and bedtime practices

Study Objectives:To explore the interplay between infant temperament, sleep characteristics, and bedtime practices. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study involving a large sample of 9-13 month old infants (N = 623). Sleep data were collected through auto-videosomnography, allowing for objective, non-invasive assessment of sleep in an infants’ ecological environment. Infant temperament and bedtime practices were assessed with questionnaires completed by parents. Results:Results revealed significant correlations between negative affectivity and disrupted sleep patterns, including shorter sleep duration, more night awakenings, and increased parental interventions. Infants falling asleep while being breast/bottle feeding or while being hold/rocked had shorter nocturnal sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, later bedtime, earlier wake up time, and more parent interventions. Regression analyses indicated that bedtime practices accounted for a substantial portion of variance in sleep metrics, emphasizing their role in influencing infant sleep. Conclusions:The study highlights the intricate interconnections between infant temperament, sleep, and caregiving practices, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of individual differences to tailor effective parenting strategies for promoting healthy sleep in infants.