Play2Sleep: Using Play to Improve Infant Sleep
Effectiveness of Play2Sleep with Mothers and Fathers of Infants: A Mixed Methods Study
One in four Canadian families face infant sleep difficulties, which are associated with poor parental mental health, guilt, helplessness and fatigue. Play2Sleep integrates science on infant sleep and child development to help nurses in coaching parents to improve their infant’s sleep.
In the Play2Sleep study, we tested if providing different types of services, resources, and strategies during home visits with mothers and fathers improves infant sleep and family wellbeing. Unlike current “cry-it-out” approaches, Play2Sleep can be used for infants younger than 6 months and has potential as a prevention strategy for infant sleep problems. Including fathers makes this research unique and should result in evidence that more fully represents this complex family experience. This research is action-oriented, relates directly to clinical practice, and addresses family priorities.
Study Status: Manuscript submitted for peer review
Principal Investigator: Karen Benzies PhD, RN
Co-investigator: Elizabeth Keys PhD, RN
Manuscript submitted for peer review. Results will be shared soon.
Sponsors and Partners
The Benzies Lab would like to acknowledge funding from the Pre-Doctoral Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program Award (CCHCSP), the Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions Clinician Fellowship, and Dr. Karen Benzies, Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, as well as the support from our valued partners;
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Training Program in Genetics, Child Development and Health
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI)
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (ACHF)
