Abstract(s)
Despite strong theoretical reasons to believe that the quality of parent-infant interactions
should influence child sleep, the empirical evidence for links between maternal behavior
and children’s sleep is equivocal. Notably, it is unclear at which ages such influences
might be particularly salient. The current study aimed to examine prospective
longitudinal associations between early maternal sensitivity and children’s sleep during
early childhood. Maternal sensitivity was assessed at 12 months during a home visit.
Children’s sleep was measured at 12 and 18 months as well as at 2, 3, and 4 years, using
a sleep diary completed by mothers. Results revealed significant or marginal positive
associations between maternal sensitivity and children’s sleep consolidation (percentage
of nighttime sleep) at 2, 3 and 4 years, but not at the most proximal assessments of 12 and
18 months. These findings suggest that child age could potentially be a key factor in the
associations between maternal behavior and children’s sleep.