Sleep Problems and Affecting Factors of 6-12 Months Infants in Istanbul or Turkey - Abstract
Introduction: Family’s cultural and traditional practices have a great importance in ensuring the sleep pattern of the infant. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in order to evaluate the sleep pattern of 6-12 months infants and determine the familial factors that may affect sleep pattern’s development.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted between January-April 2013 with 98 mother-infant pairs who agreed to participate in the study in a family health centre in Istanbul. Infants included in the study are full-term born and healthy infants with a birth weight between 2500-3500 g. The data were obtained by using the questionnaire developed by the researchers in line with the literature and improved according to expert opinions.
Results & discussion: The average age of infants was 8.09 ± 2.96 months. When mothers were asked if they had difficulties in putting their infants to sleep, 56.1% (n: 55) specified they occasionally have problems. It was found that 62, 2% of mothers singing lullabies, 13,3% were reading books, 56,1% were shaking their infants on their legs and 11.2% on a sheet or 28.6% in the crib for putting their infants to sleep. Mothers explained that left their infants alone on the bed (22, 4%) and breastfeeding (52%) for sleeping.
Conclusion: Providing mothers with trainings regarding the sleep patterns of infants at FHC can be recommended as an effective nursing practice in developing infants ‘sleep patterns.