Swaddling: Maternal Option and Sleep Behaviour in Two-month-old Infants

Abstract

This study aimed to assess possible association between swaddling and sleep behaviour in two-month-old infants. It comprised 198 apparently healthy infants from the community setting selected by chance (86 boys, 112 girls), aged two months, who were singletons born in St Petersburg in 2007. The mothers were asked to complete the questionnaires addressing infant, maternal, and demographic major characteristics with particular emphasis on maternal swaddling practice and infant sleep routine. As part of the interview, the mothers were asked to describe possible sleep disturbances in infants in five major sleep domains: bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings, regularity and duration of sleep and snoring. Of 198 infants, 120 babies (60.6%) were never swaddled at night-time, 35 (17.7%) were swaddled occasionally and 43 (21.7%) were swaddled regularly. No significant associations were found between regular swaddling and infant–parent(s) room and bed sharing, type of mattress used and preferred position in which the infant was habitually put to sleep. There was no association between swaddling and habitual position in which the baby was usually found awake and maternal reports on infant sleep disturbances. In conclusion, no convincing evidence was found on any beneficial effect of swaddling in terms of modifying baby's night-time sleep behaviour and sleep routine that might have been potentially protective against sudden infant death syndrome.