Early parent education to improve infant sleep

Effect of Early Parent Education on Children's Sleep: Beyond Risk Factors

This trial will test whether sending sleep information and advice to expecting parents helps their babies sleep longer and have fewer sleep problems during the first 24 months.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 391 (estimated)
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Chicago (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Chicago, Illinois)
• Trial ID: NCT07515534 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional study enrolls pregnant people who are current or new patients at Weissbluth Pediatrics and randomizes families to one of two sleep-information email programs or to a control group that receives no information. Participants will receive regularly scheduled sleep information and advice emails, complete weekly surveys for the first eight weeks after birth, and complete monthly online surveys up to 24 months. Researchers will compare total 24-hour sleep duration and measures of sleep problems (bedtime resistance, night waking frequency and duration, and nap difficulties) across the groups over the 24-month period. The study excludes adopting parents, multiple pregnancies, and limits enrollment to one child per family.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Pregnant people who are current or new patients at Weissbluth Pediatrics, not expecting multiples, and willing to receive emails and complete surveys through 24 months are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Adopting parents, those with multiple pregnancies, families unable or unwilling to engage with regular digital messages and long-term surveys, or parents whose infants have significant medical sleep disorders may be unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase infants' total sleep time and reduce common sleep problems, improving sleep and overall well-being for families.

How similar studies have performed: Previous parent-education interventions for infant sleep have shown mixed but generally modest improvements in sleep duration and night wakings, so this approach has some prior supportive but not definitive evidence.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently pregnant
* Two-parent families or single-parent families
* Current or new patient at Weissbluth Pediatrics

Exclusion Criteria:

* Adopting parents
* Multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, etc.)
* Siblings (one enrolled child per family)

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois

• University of Chicago — Chicago, Illinois, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Hannah Boehm, MPH

Conditions: Sleep