How parents' understanding of their babies' cues affects sleep, feeding, and crying

Parental Recognition of Child Needs and Its Impact on Early Childhood Regulatory Problems

Observational Marmara University · NCT07249593

This study tests whether parents' ability to read and interpret their 6-month-old children's cues relates to problems with sleep, feeding, and crying.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment249 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexFemale
SponsorMarmara University Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Istanbul and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07249593 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

About 249 parent–infant pairs will be enrolled and complete standardized measures of infant sleep, feeding, and crying (including the BISQ-R) alongside questionnaires of parental reflective functioning, emotional responses to crying, and parental stress. Researchers will use descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple regression models to see whether parental sensitivity and reflective functioning predict infants' regulatory difficulties. The study is observational and non-interventional and collects questionnaire-based data and parent-reported assessments. It is the first large-scale quantitative study of these relationships in Turkey and aims to clarify parent–child interaction factors that contribute to early regulation problems.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Parents aged 18 or older who speak Turkish fluently and have a healthy, term infant about 6 months old (±1 month) with birth weight ≥2500 g are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Parents of infants with serious chronic conditions, a history of preterm birth (<37 weeks) or low birth weight (<2500 g), non-Turkish speakers, or those unable to complete questionnaires reliably are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could identify parental behaviors and perceptions to target with support or education to reduce early sleep, feeding, and crying problems.

How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller observational studies have reported associations between parental sensitivity/reflective functioning and infant regulatory problems, but randomized intervention evidence is limited and this is the first large quantitative effort in Turkey.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants aged 18 years and older with a infant aged 6 months (± 1 month)
* Willingness to participate in the study and follow-up
* Ability to speak, understand and communicate fluently in Turkish.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Mothers of infants with serious chronic conditions requiring follow-up, diagnosed after birth, even if included in the study
* Individuals who completed the questionnaire but did not meet the questionnaire reliability criteria
* Parents of babies with a history of preterm birth (gestational age under 37 weeks)
* Parents of babies with a history of low birth weight (\<2500g)

Where this trial is running

Istanbul and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Regulation, SelfReflective FunctioningMentalizationChild SleepParent-Child RelationCryingFeeding Problemsregulatory problems
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.