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  • Basic Science Article
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Sleep for infants after discharge from a neonatal ward: Expert- and parent endorsed strategies

Pediatric Research volume 98, pages 327–334 (2025)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

This study aims to outline sleep strategies grounded in scientific research and endorsed by sleep experts, integrating parental input into the evaluation process, to assist parents in supporting infant sleep after discharge from a neonatal ward.

Methods

A Delphi method, consisting of three rounds, was employed. Sleep strategies based on scientific literature were presented to sleep experts and parents of infants discharged from a neonatal ward.

Results

A literature search identified 11 sleep strategies. These strategies were incorporated in Delphi round 1. Out of 17 sleep experts, 13 reviewed and revised these 11 sleep strategies, resulting in a list of 8 sleep strategies. In round 2, these strategies were ranked by 14 out of 17 sleep experts, with “knowledge gathering” being ranked the most important sleep strategy. In round 3, the same list of 8 sleep strategies was ranked by 35 parents. They found “sleep hygiene” and “swaddling” the most important strategies.

Conclusion

This study offers 8 sleep strategies that are grounded in scientific research, supported by experts, and evaluated by parents. Experts and parents prioritize sleep strategies differently. Therefore, healthcare professionals should offer practical and customized sleep strategies that align with the unique needs of each family.

Impact

  • Experts and parents prioritize sleep strategies differently.

  • This study offers a summary of sleep strategies that are grounded in scientific research, supported by experts, and include parental feedback in the evaluation process.

  • Healthcare professionals can use these strategies to offer practical and customized sleep advise that aligns with the unique needs of each family.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

The authors have no funding support to disclose.

Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Eline R. de Groot, Agnes van den Hoogen.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Eline R. de Groot, Agnes van den Hoogen, Nathalia E. Sierksma, Sophie R. D. van der Schoor & Jeroen Dudink

  2. Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

    Eline R. de Groot & Agnes van den Hoogen

  3. INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Mary Anne J. Ryan

  4. Department of Global Nutrition, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands

    Monique P. L’Hoir & Floortje Kanits

  5. Department of Neonatology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Mirja Quante

  6. School of Psychology, Infant and Early Childhood Development, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbra, CA, USA

    Christy Gliniak

Authors
  1. Eline R. de Groot
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  2. Agnes van den Hoogen
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  3. Mary Anne J. Ryan
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  4. Monique P. L’Hoir
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  6. Nathalia E. Sierksma
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  7. Sophie R. D. van der Schoor
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  8. Mirja Quante
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  9. Christy Gliniak
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  10. Jeroen Dudink
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Contributions

ERdG contributed to conceptualization, data acquisition, methodology, formal analysis, data curation, writing (original draft, review & editing). AvdH contributed to conceptualization, data acquisition, methodology, formal analysis, writing (original draft, review & editing). MAJR contributed to writing (review & editing). MPLH contributed to writing (review & editing). FK contributed to writing (review & editing). NES contributed to data acquisition. SRDvdS contributed to data acquisition, to writing (review & editing). MQ contributed to writing (review & editing). CG contributed to writing (review & editing). JD contributed to the conceptualization, to writing (review & editing) and supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeroen Dudink.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Patient consent

Sleep experts and parents were asked to join the study and fill out the Delphi questionnaire. After they agreed, the Delphi questionnaires were sent. All data were acquired anonymously.

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de Groot, E.R., van den Hoogen, A., Ryan, M.A.J. et al. Sleep for infants after discharge from a neonatal ward: Expert- and parent endorsed strategies. Pediatr Res 98, 327–334 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03811-w

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