Modifications of Systematic Ignoring in the Management of Infant Sleep Disturbance: Efficacy and Infant Distress

Abstract

ABSTRACT Systematic ignoring and two modifications of it (systematic ignoring with minimal parental check and systematic ignoring with parental presence) were evaluated for treatment of Infant Sleep Disturbance (ISD). Fifteen infants (6–15 months of age) participated in a study utilising a multiple-baseline design across the three treatment programs. Frequency of awakening and duration of crying were measured in order to evaluate treatment efficacy and infant distress. All programs led to decreases in night waking but infants treated with systematic ignoring with minimal check woke and cried more over the treatment period. Given our present knowledge, the parental presence program appears to be the treatment of choice. This result needs further investigation, as do those of other programs commonly used to treat Infant Sleep Disturbance (ISD) in infants.