Sleep Problems in Toddlers: Effects of Treatment on Their Daytime Behavior

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a treatment program for severely sleep-disturbed children on their daytime interaction with their mothers. Twenty-eight children with serious sleep problems and 30 matched controls, aged 12 to 36 months, were compared on behavior rating scales, on sleep patterns, and during play and feeding interactions with their mothers before and after an intervention program. After treatment the sleep-disturbed children improved in their behavior, in their sleep patterns, and during feeding interactions with their mothers. However, the behavior of the children but not that of their mothers improved. The findings of this study indicate that a brief behavioral intervention program focused on helping families manage children with sleep disturbances can generalize to daytime mother-child interactions. This suggests that a compromised relationship in early life may be modified by rather simple interventions since changes of one behavioral system may modify the total relationship of young children with those caring for them.