Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted families, yet studies on its effects on infants and their parents have thus far been sparse and based mostly on retrospective parent reporting. This study aimed to prospectively evaluate the impact of COVID-19 living conditions on infant and parent sleep, as well as infant screen exposure, parent daytime sleepiness, and parent depression levels, using multi-method assessment.
Methods: Infant and parent data collected in 2020 were compared with a matched cohort collected in 2019. The total sample included 1518 US infants aged 1-18 months (M = 8.5, SD = 4.6; 54% boys). Auto-videosomnography metrics were obtained from the 14-day period prior to survey completion (number of analyzed nights: M = 12.11 SD = 2.66 in the 2019 cohort; and M = 11.91 SD = 2.41 in the 2020 cohort). Parents completed online questionnaires regarding their infant's sleep and screen exposure, as well as their own sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and depression levels.
Results: Compared to 2019, infants in 2020 slept ∼40 min more per night on average, as indicated by auto-videosomnography. Infants additionally had earlier sleep timing, and increased parent-reported sleep-onset latency and nocturnal wakefulness. Infant screen time rose by 18.3 min per day for older infants, but remained stable for younger infants. Parents reported lower daytime sleepiness and higher depression symptomology during 2020, whereas no change was apparent in their sleep quality ratings.
Conclusions: Restricted living conditions during COVID-19 in the USA led to increased infant screen exposure and parental depression, but also to increased infant sleep duration and reduced parent sleepiness. Future research is needed to examine the mechanistic pathways through which COVID-19 impacted on infant and parent well-being.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8418313 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.07.033 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Form Res
January 2025
Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Background: Racial inequities in pregnancy outcomes persist despite investments in clinical, educational, and behavioral interventions, indicating that a new approach is needed to address the root causes of health disparities. Guaranteed income during pregnancy has the potential to narrow racial health inequities for birthing people and infants by alleviating financial stress.
Objective: We describe community-driven formative research to design the first pregnancy-guaranteed income program in the United States-the Abundant Birth Project (ABP).
Dev Med Child Neurol
January 2025
Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Aim: To identify neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that predict the likelihood of children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) developing epilepsy, together with clinical features and a validated MRI scoring system.
Method: This was a retrospective descriptive cohort study of infants with cCMV referred to a paediatric infectious disease centre between April 2012 and March 2022, and followed up for at least 2 years. MRI was performed before 4 months of age and assessed by two paediatric neuroradiologists.
Pediatr Pulmonol
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy/Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis and Sleep, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Background: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation guidelines recommend human milk (HM) as the ideal source of nutrition for children with CF (cwCF). Despite known pulmonary and nutritional benefits, fewer cwCF ever receive HM compared to the general population. Early nutrition choices are preference-sensitive, yet little is known about the factors that impede or sustain HM feeding among parents of cwCF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHaemophilia
January 2025
Haemophilia Centre/Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Introduction: Infants with haemophilia, due to parental overprotection, have difficulty developing their full motor repertoire of typical gross motor development. It is of great clinical importance to evaluate the motor development of these infants with a standardized assessment tool.
Aim: To study the gross motor development in infants with haemophilia, using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and compare it with full-term (FT) and preterm infants (PT).
Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep
January 2025
Summary: Vitamin D is commonly recommended for daily intake as dietary sources are often insufficient. However, prolonged high-dose use can lead to serious complications. We present a rare case of a 2-month-old infant who developed severe hypercalcemia and hypertriglyceridemia due to an accidental overdose of 25-OH vitamin D, leading to hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!