Parental stress and bedtime routines in toddlerhood

Abstract

Objectives. Main purposes of our study were to explore: a) the relationship between paternal and maternal perceptions of their interactions with the child during bedtime routines; b) the possible relationship among context dimensions (social support, marital satisfaction, parenting stress and bedtime routines). We examined both parents' subjective experience toward children's bedtime routines and their personal relationship with going to sleep. Results. Correlations outcome evidenced positive relationships between maternal PSIS global score and paternal PSI "Difficult Child" (r = .31 p = 0.05), maternal subscale PSIS, "Sleep Reinforcement" score and maternal PSI "Parental distress" (r = .38 p= 0.05) score, paternal PSIS "Sleep Conflict" and maternal PSI "Difficult Child" score (r = .47 p = 0.05), maternal PSIS "Sleep Conflict" score and PSI "Difficult Child" reported by both parents (mothers r = .40 p = 0.01; fathers r = .47, p = 0.05, respectively). Examining parent's answers to the brief semi-structured interview, putting children to sleep is considered a positive and intimate moment (mothers = 80%; fathers = 46%) and children's sleep doesn't represent a problem (mothers = 76%; fathers = 61%). 56% of mothers and 38% of fathers wrote about their bedtime routines as a positive and relaxed moment spent with parents. Conclusions. A good concordance between mothers' and fathers' perceptions about children's bedtime routines was detected. Proximal context can influence bedtime routine, specifically parental stress can lead to critic bedtime routines. Primary care practitioners can play an instrumental role in helping families institute positive sleep practices and improving sleep in toddlers.

Predictive Factors of Toddlers’ Sleep and Parental Stress

“…However, we confirmed the fourth hypothesis (H4), highlighting paternal involvement in children's bedtime care as a protective factor for sleep quality [24,33]. Our data confirm the results of previous studies showing associations between higher levels of maternal stress and bedtime difficulties, less favorable child sleep profiles, and challenging bedtime routines [15,16]. Regarding parental involvement, several studies identified a relationship between paternal factors and children's sleep patterns [19].…”

“…Hughes et al [15] observed that mothers of 9-month-old infants with less favorable sleep profiles reported depressive symptoms, poorer self-reported health, and significant levels of parenting stress. De Stasio and colleagues [16] found that mothers and fathers who reported significant levels of parental distress tended to describe their toddlers' bedtime routines as particularly challenging.…”

Protective and risk factors of toddlers' sleep and parental stress

“…From our results maternal stress represents a risk factor for the increasing night awakenings, instead paternal involvement in children's bedtime care appear to act as protective factors for sleep quality (Dahl & El-Sheikh, 2007). Our data confirm previous studies showing associations between higher levels of maternal stress and bedtime difficulties, less favorable child sleep profiles, and challenging bedtime routines (Hughes et al, 2015;De Stasio et al, 2018). Regarding parental involvement, several studies identified a relationship between paternal factors and children's sleep patterns (Bernier et al, 2016).…”

Parental Mental Health, Fathers’ Involvement and Bedtime Resistance in Infants

“…Higher levels of stress and depression are negatively associated with parental warmness and reciprocity [36], which are both crucial factors in caregiver-child interactions at bedtime and in general for good quality sleep in children. Only a few studies have also involved fathers by exploring the relationship between paternal parenting stress, children’s sleep problems and parent-child sleep interactions at bedtime [11, 29, 30]. The existing research suggests that fathers experience similar perinatal affective disorders to mothers, such as, for example, post-partum depression [31, 32].…”