Sleep characteristics and changes in sleep patterns among infants in Bhaktapur, Nepal

Abstract

Objective Sleep undergoes major changes during the first year of life, but the characteristics of sleep among infants in low and middle-income countries are not well documented. This study describes sleep characteristics and changes in sleep patterns in infants at 6 and 12 months of age from Bhaktapur, Nepal. Methods This was a community-based longitudinal study comprising 735 infants. Sleep characteristics were obtained by interview with the mother using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaires. The stability of sleep duration and night awakenings were estimated by logistic regression analysis. Results Cosleeping in the parent’s bed at 6 and 12 months of age was almost universal (>97%). At 6 months of age, 254 (35%) and at 12 months of age, 341 (46%) infants had a total 24-hour sleep duration <12 hours. Night awakenings >3 times per night were common (65%) both at 6 and 12 months of age. Infants with frequent nightly awakenings at 6 months had increased odds of frequent nightly awakenings at 12 months (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.6, 2.9). Very few (<3%) mothers reported sleep problems in their infants at 6 and 12 months of age. Conclusions Cosleeping was almost universal among Nepalese infants, and very few of the mothers reported sleep problems in their infants. Infants at 6 and 12 months had similar patterns for both sleep duration and nocturnal awakenings. For infants, there were increased odds of having similar sleep duration and nocturnal awakening at 6 and 12 months.