Let's help parents help themselves: A letter to the editor supporting the safety of behavioural sleep techniques

摘要

We read with interest the recent article by Middlemiss et al. titled "Asynchrony of mother-infant hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity following extinction of infant crying responses induced during the transition to sleep" published in Early Human Development, Volume 88, Issue 4, April 2012 [1 ]. Whether behavioural sleep techniques cause infants undue stress and potential long-term emorlonal harm is a highly contentious issue in Australia and internationally [2-4]. While we understand that the aim of Middlemiss' paper was not to comment on the safety of behavioural sleep techniques, a conclusion of the article has been used by social media outlets in Australia and overseas to warn against their use [5]. As sleep researchers and clinicians, our goal is to help parents improve their children's sleep and, subsequently, their own mental health [6]. We are concerned about the potential harm that Middlemiss' conclusion may have by discouraging health professionals and families from using effective [7-9] and safe [10] behavioural sleep techniques.