title: A behavioral model of infant sleep disturbance.
abstract: Chronic sleep disturbance, such as bed refusal, sleep-onset delay, and night waking with crying, affects 15% to 35% of preschool children. Biological factors, particularly arousals associated with recurrent episodes of rapid-eye-movement sleep, render infants vulnerable to repeated awakenings. Parental failure to establish appropriate stimulus control of sleep-related behaviors and parent-mediated contingencies of reinforcement for sleep-incompatible behaviors may shape and maintain infant sleep disturbance. Treatment and prevention strategies are discussed, and research needs are identified.
authors.affiliation: University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Blampied
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: France
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012931:Social Environment; D014851:Wakefulness