Early sleep intervention for improving infant sleep quality: a randomized controlled trial, preliminary result

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthy sleep issues should provide to family within first 6 months of infant’s life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of early sleep intervention on nighttime sleep quality. Methods Eligible infants aged 4 months ± 2 weeks were randomized to receive early sleep intervention or usual care. Data on sleep variables were obtained via parental interview at baseline and 6 months of age. Using logistic regression to analyze the efficacy of early sleep intervention. Results At baseline, 335 eligible infants were enrolled and randomized. In total, 306 participants were final analyzed: early sleep intervention group (n = 148) and the usual care group (n = 158). The early sleep intervention group had a significantly longer nighttime sleep duration and a shorter night waking duration than the usual care group (585.20 ± 80.38 min vs. 496.14 ± 87.78 min, p < .001 and 61.01 ± 36.38 min vs. 89.72 ± 45.54 min, p < .001). At 6 months of age, the early sleep intervention group had a longer night sleep duration (≥ 4 h/time) than the usual care group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.34–4.28). Conclusions Early sleep intervention should be recommended to infants at 4 months of age as a part of well childcare to improve infant sleep quality. Trial Registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry (thaiclinicaltrial.org). Retrospective registered TCTR20230117001 (17/01/2023).

Keywords

• Infant sleep
• Sleep intervention
• Sleep quality
• Night waking