Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression: A community-based study

Abstract

Objectives. To describe infant sleep patterns and investigate relationships between infant sleep problems and maternal well-being in the community setting. Design. Cross-sectional community survey. Setting. Maternal and Child Health Centers in 3 middle-class local government areas in Melbourne, Australia. Participants. Mothers of infants 6 to 12 months of age. Main Outcome Measures. Maternal well-being (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and infant sleep problems (standardized maternal questionnaire). Results. The survey was completed by 738 mothers (94% response rate), of whom 46% reported their infant's sleep as a problem. In the univariate analyses, sleep patterns characterizing a slee..