Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2pzkn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-15T06:18:53.671Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Handling Parents' Concerns Regarding the Behavioural Treatment of Infant Sleep Disturbance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Karyn G. France
Karyn G. France*
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury
*
Department of Education, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800 Christchurch, New Zealand
Get access

Abstract

Infant sleep disturbance (ISD) is widespread and troublesome. Although effective management techniques have been established, some lay and professional authors have expressed concern about these interventions. These concerns are sometimes shared by parents who seek professional advice while feeling ambivalent about undertaking treatment. These concerns include (a) that ISD is normal and inevitable, (b) that it results from unnatural or artificial cultural practices, (c) the belief that ISD expresses a need state, and (d) the belief that the use of extinction is harmful. These concerns are examined and the management of ISD by extinction and its alternatives are considered in the light of the ethics of professional practice. It is concluded that these concerns are best answered within the context of a professional relationship based on a partnership and the sharing of expertise with parents.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 101 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adams, L.S., & Rickert, V.I. (1989). Reducing bed-time tantrums: Comparison between positive routines and graduated extinction. Pediatrics, 84, 756–761.Google Scholar
Anders, T.F. (1979). Night-waking in infants during the first year of life. Pediatrics, 63, 860–864.Google Scholar
Basler, K., Largo, R.H., & Molinari, L. (1980). Die Entwicklung des Schlarfverhaltens in den ersten funf Lebenjahren [The development of sleep behaviours in the first five years]. Helvitica Paediatrica Acta, 35, 211–223.Google Scholar
Bax, M.C.O. (1980). Sleep disturbance in the young child. British Medical Journal, 280, 1177–1179.Google Scholar
Bernal, J.F. (1973). Night waking in infants during the first 14 months. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 15, 760–769.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bidder, R.T, Gray, O.P., Howells, P.M., & Eaton, M.P. (1986). Sleep problems in preschool children: Community clinics. Child: Care, Health and Development, 12, 325–337.Google Scholar
Blampied, N.M., & France, K.G. (1993). A behavioural model of infant sleep disturbance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 447–492.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blurton-Jones, N., Rossetti-Ferreira, M.C., Farquar-Brown, M., & McDonald, L. (1978). The association between perinatal factors and later night waking. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 20, 427–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Borgatta, E.F., & Fanshel, D. (1970). The Child Behaviour Characteristics (CBC) form: Revised age-specific forms. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 5, 49–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carey, W.B. (1974). Night waking and temperament in infancy. Journal of Pediatrics, 84, 756–758.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carey, W.B. (1975). Breast feeding and night-waking [Letter to the editor]. Journal of Pediatrics, 87, 327.Google Scholar
Caudill, W., & Weinstein, H. (1969). Maternal care and infant behaviour in Japan and America. Psychiatry, 32, 12–43.Google Scholar
Chavin, W., & Tinson, S. (1980). Children with sleep difficulties. Health Visitor, 53, 477–480.Google Scholar
Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., & Heward, W.L. (1987). Applied Behavior Analysis. Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing.Google Scholar
Dadds, M.R. (1989). Child behaviour therapy and family context: Research and clinical practice with maritally distressed families. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 11(2), 27–44.Google Scholar
Daws, D. (1989). Through the night: Helping parents and sleepless infants. London: Free Association Books.Google Scholar
Douglas, J. (1989). Behaviour problems in young children. London, UK: Routledge.Google Scholar
Durand, V.M., & Mindell, J.A. (1990). Behavioural treatment of multiple childhood sleep disorders: Effects on child and family. Behavior Modification, 14, 37–49.Google Scholar
Elizabeth, J. (1988). Caring for babies at night. Auckland, New Zealand: Longman Paul.Google Scholar
Ferber, R. (1985). Solve your child's sleep problems. New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Ferber, R. (1987). The sleepless child. In Guilleminault, C. (Ed.), Sleep and its disorders in children (pp. 141–163). New York: Raven Press.Google Scholar
Fergusson, D.M., Shannon, F.T., & Horwood, L.J. (1981). Night waking in the first two years of life. Unpublished manuscript, Christchurch Clinical School, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Flint, B.M. (1974). The Flint Infant Security Scale. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.Google Scholar
Forehand, R., & Long, N. (1988). Outpatient treatment of the acting out child: Procedures, long term follow-up data and clinical problems. Advances in Behavior Research and Therapy, 10, 129–177.Google Scholar
France, K.G. (1989). Understanding and managing infant sleep disturbance. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.Google Scholar
France, K.G. (1992). Behavior characteristics and security in sleep disturbed infants treated with extinction. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 17, 467–475.Google Scholar
France, K.G., Blampied, N.M., & Wilkinson, P. (1991). Treatment of infant sleep disturbance with trimeprazine in combination with extinction. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 12, 308–314.Google Scholar
France, K.G., & Hudson, S.M. (1990). Behavior management of infant sleep disturbance. Journal Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 91–98.Google Scholar
France, K.G., & Blampied, N.M. (1994). Infant sleep disturbance in its developmental context: Explanatory models. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Freedman, D.G. (1974). Human infancy: An evolutionary perspective. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Grodin, M.A., & Alpert, J.J. (1983). Informed consent and pediatric care. In Melton, G.B., Koocher, G. P., & Saks, M. (Eds.), Children's competence to consent (pp. 93–109). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Holliday, J., Sibbald, B., & Tooley, M. (1987). Sleep problems in two year olds. Family Practice, 4, 32–35.Google Scholar
Johnson, C.M. (1991). Infant and toddler sleep: A telephone survey of parents in one community. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 12, 108–114.Google Scholar
Johnson, C.M., Bradley-Johnson, S., & Stack, J.M. (1981). Decreasing the frequency of infants' nocturnal crying with the use of scheduled awakenings. Family Practice Research Journal, 1, 98–103.Google Scholar
Jolly, H. (1985). Book of Child Care (3rd ed.). London: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Jones, D.P.H., & Verduyn, C.M. (1983). Behavioral management of sleep problems. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 58, 442–444.Google Scholar
Kataria, S., Swanson, M.S., & Trevathan, G.E. (1987). Persistence of sleep disturbances in preschool children. Journal of Pediatrics, 110, 642–646.Google Scholar
Kirkland, J. (1985). Crying and babies: Helping families cope. London: Croon Helm.Google Scholar
Koocher, G.P. (1983). Competence to consent: Psychotherapy. In Melton, G. B., Koocher, G. P., & Saks, M. (Eds.), Children's competence to consent (pp. 111–127). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
La Leche League International. (1981). The womanly art of breast-feeding. Franklin Park, IL: Author.Google Scholar
Lask, B. (1977). Emotional and behavior problems in childhood. Part 2. Sleep and feeding disorders. Midwife, Health Visitor and Community Nurse, 13, 384–389.Google Scholar
Lawton, C., France, K.G., & Blampied, N.M. (1991). Treatment of infant sleep disturbance by graduated extinction. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 13, 39–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, K. (1992). Pattern of night waking and crying of Korean infants from 3 months to 2 years old and its relation with various factors. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 13, 326–330.Google Scholar
Lozoff, B., & Brittenham, G. (1979). Infant care: Cache or cany. Journal of Pediatrics, 95, 478–483.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lozoff, B., Wolfe, A.W., & Davis, N.S. (1984). Cosleeping in urban families with young children in the United States. Pediatrics, 74, 171–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Margolin, G. (1982). Ethical and legal considerations in marital and family therapy. American Psychologist, 37, 788–801.Google Scholar
McDonald, K., & the Leslie Centre. (1985). The sleep book. Auckland, New Zealand: Reed Methuen.Google Scholar
McCarr, R.J., & Hovell, M.F. (1980). In search of the sand man: Shaping an infant to sleep. Education and Treatment of Children, 3, 173–182.Google Scholar
Milan, M.A., Mitchell, Z.P., Berger, M.I., & Pierson, D.F. (1981). Positive routines: A rapid alternative to extinction for elimination of bedtime tantrum behavior. Child Behaviour Therapy, 3, 13–25.Google Scholar
Mitchell, E.A., Taylor, B.J., Ford, R.P.K., Stewart, A.W., Becroft, D.M.O., Thompson, J.M.D., Scragg, R., & Hassall, I.B. (1992). Four modifiable and other major risk factors for cot death: The New Zealand study. Journal of Pediatric Child Health, 28 (Suppl 1), 53–58.Google Scholar
Moore, T., & Ucko, L.E. (1957). Night waking in early infancy. Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 32, 333–342.Google Scholar
Poling, A. (1985). Extinction. In Bellack, A.S., & Hersen, M. (Eds.), Dictionary of Behavior Therapy Techniques. New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Pritchard, A., & Appelton, P. (1988). Management of sleep problems in pre-school children. Early Child Development and Care, 34, 227–240.Google Scholar
Ragins, N., & Schachter, J. (1971). A study of sleep behavior in two-year-old children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 10, 464–480.Google Scholar
Raphael, D. (1976). Night waking: A normal response [Letter to the Editor]. Journal of Pediatrics, 88, 169–170.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richman, N. (1981). Sleep problems in young children. Archives of Diseases in Children, 56, 491–493.Google Scholar
Rickert, V.I., & Johnson, C.M. (1988). Reducing nocturnal awakening and crying episodes in infants and young children: A comparison between scheduled awakenings and systematic ignoring. Pediatrics, 81, 203–212.Google Scholar
Rolfe, R.C. (1990). You can postpone anything but love. New York: Warner Books.Google Scholar
Rolider, A., & Van Houten, R. (1984). Training parents to use extinction to eliminate night-time crying by gradually increasing the criteria for ignoring crying. Education and Treatment of Children, 7, 119–124.Google Scholar
Sanders, M.R., Bor, B., & Dadds, M. (1984). Modifying bed-time disruptions in children using stimulus control and contingency management techniques. Behavioral Psychotherapy, 12, 130–141.Google Scholar
Sanders, M.R., & Lawton, J.M. (1993). Discussing assessment findings with families: A guided participation model of information transfer. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 15(2), 5–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sears, W. (1985). Night-time parenting: How to get your baby and child to sleep. Franklin Park, IL: La Leche League International.Google Scholar
Seymour, F.W. (1987). Parent management of sleep difficulties in young children. Behaviour Change, 4, 39–48.Google Scholar
Seymour, F.W., Bayfield, G., Brock, P., & During, M. (1983). Management of night waking in young children. Australian Journal of Family Therapy, 4, 217–223.Google Scholar
Thevenin, T. (1977). The family bed: An age old concept in childrearing (2nd ed.). Minneapolis, MN: Author.Google Scholar
Triandis, H.C., & Heron, A. (1981). Handbook of cross-cultural psychology: Vol. 4. Developmental psychology. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.Google Scholar
Van Tassel, E.B. (1985). The relative influence of child and environmental characteristics on sleep disturbances in the first and second years of life. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 6, 81–86.Google Scholar
Werry, J.S., & Carleille, J. (1981). Common sleep problems in children under five. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Werry, J.S., & Carleille, J. (1983). The nuclear family, suburban neurosis, and iatrogenesis in Auckland mothers of young children. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22, 172–179.Google Scholar
Whiting, J.W.M. (1981). Environmental constraints on infant care practices. In Munroe, R.H., Munroe, R.L., & Whiting, B.B. (Eds.). Handbook of cross-cultural human development (pp. 155–180). New York: Garland.Google Scholar
Zuckerman, B., Stevenson, J., & Bailey, V. (1987). Sleep problems in early childhood: Continuities, predictive factors and behavioral correlates. Pediatrics, 80, 664–671.Google Scholar