Parental help-seeking for sleep in children aged 0–5 years: A systematic review

Healthy sleep is vital for children's development, immune function, and emotional health. However, many young children (0-5 years) experience sleep problems, and parental help-seeking behaviours are critical for timely intervention. This systematic review synthesised evidence on whether parents seek help for child sleep, where they seek help, and factors influencing help-seeking behaviours. A systematic search of CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO was conducted. Eligible studies included original research addressing parental help-seeking for child sleep, involving caregivers of children aged 0-5 years. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. Of these, some focused on help-seeking for child sleep problems, while others examined help-seeking for child sleep more broadly. Approximately 47%-67% of parents sought help for their child's sleep. Parents accessed formal (e.g., general practitioners) and informal sources (e.g., online forums). Factors influencing help-seeking included perceived accessibility and reliability of support, lack of tailored resources, fear of judgement, delays in accessing professional advice, parental characteristics, prior experiences, and parental knowledge. Despite high need, parents often encountered barriers to obtaining effective guidance. This review highlights a critical gap in the availability of accessible, evidence-based, tailored sleep resources. Future research should examine parental preferences and assess the quality and effectiveness of existing support options.