Effects of parent training on infant sleeping patterns, parents' stress, and perceived parental competence.

First-time parent couples from childbirth classes were randomly assigned to a four-session training group (n = 29) or a control group (n = 31). Members of the training group were taught behavioral strategies to promote healthy, self-sufficient sleep patterns in their infants, whereas the control group received the same amount of personal contact without the behavioral training. Six sleep variables were derived from a daily infant sleep diary completed by parents at two time points. Results show that at age 6-9 weeks, infants in the training group displayed significantly better sleeping patterns than did control infants. Training group parents awakened and responded less often to infant signaling and reported greater parental competence. By contrast, control group parents indicated increased stress over time.