Early childhood insomnia and maternal bonds / Insônia do lactente e a relaçåo måe-bebê

RESUMO

Early childhood insomnia, also known as sleepless child disorder, is the difficulty in initianting or maintaining sleep throughout the night, usually starting in the first years of life. Due to its early onset, we investigated these children's behavioral characteristics and their mothers, encompassing maternal attachment and bonds. A group of 17 children with insomnia starting in early childhood was evaluated, and compared with a control group of 11 children. The mean age was 1 year and 11 months for the insomnia group, and 2 years and 2 months for the control group. Both groups were classified as low socioeconomic status. They were submitted to psychiological and developmental assessment and the mothers were interviewed. The results showed a tendency for more trantums and restlesness in the affected group. Aspects related to sex, maternal age, bedroom characterisitics, cosleeping, and the birth order of the child in relation to its siblings were similar in both groups. Sleeping in the parents bedroom and cosleeping were remarkably common and similar in both groups. Mother group counseling sessions were started with promising results, suggesting the importance of the role as a factor in the development of the early childhood insomnia