| Abstract: | The development of an organized sleep–wake cycle in young infants is influenced by characteristics of both the infant and the parent, and by the nature of their dyadic interaction. Sleep–wake state organization is influenced first by homeostatic biological regulation, and later by socioemotional regulation. This report describes a feasibility study using an olfactory intervention designed to bridge the transition from physiologic to social regulation in sleep–wake state organization. A sample of 21 mother–infant dyads participated in an one year longitudinal study, after random assignment to either an experimental condition with a maternal odor-laden sleepaid, representational sleepaid (RSA) or a control condition with a neutral sleepaid, Sham Control (SC). Self-report questionnaires measured maternal psychological well-being, and video taping recorded infant sleep–wake behaviors repeatedly throughout the first year. RSA mothers reported significantly better levels of well-being throughout the year. At six and twelve months, mothers who reported more depressive feelings exhibited different nighttime interaction patterns. Infant sleep–wake state organization and sleepaid use changed significantly during the first year but were not altered by the intervention. © 1997 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health |
