What mothers think about their infants’ sleep problems: A qualitative study on maternal cognitions and strategies

This qualitative study explores the cognitions and strategies of French mothers when it comes to their infants’ sleep problems. A total of thirty-nine French mothers of children aged from eight months to four years were interviewed about their experience of their infants’ sleep disturbances. The results revealed a prevalence of cognitions associated with emotional or physical difficulties experienced by the infant to explain the sleep difficulties, and a preferential use of physical contact strategies or of adaptation of the sleeping environment to solve them. Thus, mothers do not seem to consider themselves to have any significant influence on their child’s sleep problems. However, working on parents’ cognitions and dysfunctional behaviors can help to effectively solve infants’ sleep problems.