Abstract

Aim: Sleep problems in infancy are comman parental cancern usually related to social and cultural structure. Many parents therefore seek advice for their problematic social life. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors which may have effect on sleep problems in infancy. Methods: The study included 40 infants (age range: 6-24 months) who were refered to our hospital Pediatric Outpatient Clinic sleep problems lasting over 6 months period and 70 children with similar characteristics as a control group. The inclusian criteria were absence of any organic problem that may lead to sleeping disorders, birth weight over 2500 g and history of fullterm delivery. The data related to the factors which may have effect on sleep problems were obtained from the questinaire form completed by the infants' mothers. Results: Total sleep duration appeared similar in both groups, whereas waking frequencies significantly increased in infants with sleep problems (p=0.000). In contrast, age, birth weight, parental age, breastfeeding and starting to solid foods, number of family members and siblings and maternal education showed no significant group difference. However, paternal education was significantly fonger in the control group (p=0.008). In addition, using an object or rocking the baby while settling to sleep and sleeping in the light environment were alsa significant/y comman in the control group (p=0.000, p=0.04, p=0.004, respectively) whereas wrapping was significantly frequent in the study group (p=0.011). In contrast, feeding bejare sleep and co-sleeping with family did not show any group difference. Conclusion: We think that sleep problems in infancy are characterized by frequent night waking and related to settling methods to sleep, as well as parental behavior and sleeping environment.