A qualitative study on mothers and children perception of sleep and sleep habits

This study explored children_s perceptions of sleep and sleep habits, as well as mothers_ perceptions of their children_s sleep, sleep habits, and the practices that help their children to sleep. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach with purposive sampling. The participants were 12 preschool-aged children, aged five to six years, who were generally healthy and typically developing and 12 mothers who were non-shift workers (M = 37.4 years old, SD = 2.68). Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was performed on interview transcripts from 12 children and 12 mothers. Children_s understanding of their sleep elicited five themes (sleep behaviour, dreams, feelings upon waking, daytime functioning, facial appearance), while their perceptions of sleep habits elicited three themes (sleeping environment, bedtime routine, sleep resistance and midnight awakening). Mothers_ perceptions of their children_s sleep elicited three themes (type of sleepers; children_s feelings upon waking; daytime functioning), their perceptions of sleep habits elicited four themes (sleep pattern; sleep environment; bedtime routine; sleep resistance and midnight awakening), and their sleep-promoting practices elicited six themes (establishing a bedtime routine; providing an optimal sleep environment; parental presence during sleep onset; diet-related practices; spiritual and psychological related practices; parents_ resources). The findings revealed that young children have developed an understanding of sleep and its associated habits, highlighting the need for accurate information and sustainable healthy sleep habits from an early age. These findings may serve as a guide in the development and implementation of sleep education programmes for young children and for parenting support for Malaysian parents in managing their children_s sleep