Responsive intervention and infant sleep : A systematic review

Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify different responsive interventions that promote infant (1–23 months) sleep and parental mental health. The purpose was also to highlight the components and effects of the interventions in terms of how they changed infant sleep or parental mental health. Method: The systematic literature review included searches in PsycInfo and CINAHL that resulted in 783 articles, of which 13 were included according to the study's inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results were reported in line with the Prisma guidelines and compiled through a narrative synthesis. Results: The responsive interventions were heterogeneous in terms of preventive and treatment interventions, as well as their components and how they were delivered. Three of thirteen studies were assessed to have strong quality. Nine out of thirteen studies showed improvements in infants' sleep in the form of longer nighttime or daytime sleep, fewer nocturnal awakenings, faster sleep onset, higher sleep efficiency, lower regulation difficulties and fewer parentally perceived sleep problems. In five out of six studies, the intervention improved the parents' mental health in various ways such as relief in symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as increased sleep, psychological flexibility and self-confidence. Conclusion: Overall, this literature review shows that there is some support that responsive interventions can have a positive effect on infants' sleep and parents' mental health. The relatively new interventions need to be replicated in studies with stronger designs where effects and contributing components are determined to be relevant for implementation in the future.