Infant and toddler sleep: a telephone survey of parents in one community

Abstract

A telephone survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of infant and toddler sleep disturbances. Parents of all 12- to 35-month-old children listed in one community were contacted, and 81% participated. Many children resisted going to bed (42%) or woke and cried during the night (35%). Approximately half the parents had changed their child's diet, naptime, or bedtime and about half these parents found changing routines helpful. Parents frequently reported that pacifiers or bottles in the crib quieted their children. Crying it out, scheduled awakenings, and progressive delay responding were all effective (70% or better) for parents who were aware of these procedures. Satisfaction did not necessarily correspond with effectiveness. Finally, parents were more likely to seek information about sleep from relatives, friends, or books and magazines than from their physician or from a psychologist.