Effect of sleeping position on arousals from sleep in preterm infants.

Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of preterm infant positions during sleep, and to investigate the association among positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.

Design And Methods: This observational study was conducted in a neonatal unit with 10 preterm infants. Polysomnographic and video recordings during 24 hr identified sleep positions, arousals, sleep patterns, and time of day.