Mother-Child Bonding Challenges Associated with Infant Sleep Issues

A comprehensive study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the University of Helsinki has highlighted a significant link between maternal bonding difficulties and sleep problems in infants. Researchers evaluated various sleep disturbances in infants, including total sleep duration, night awakenings, trouble falling asleep, and sleep association issues—where babies struggle to resettle without parental help after waking. Notably, the study found that mothers experiencing bonding challenges with their eight-month-old babies exhibited increased sleep problems in their children, such as difficulty initiating sleep at that age. These issues intensified by the age of two, with children facing more frequent night awakenings and disturbances related to sleep associations. Importantly, these findings remained consistent even after accounting for factors like parental age, depressive symptoms, education, health issues, breastfeeding, child gender, age, and sibling count.

Surprisingly, no significant connection was observed between paternal bonding issues and infant sleep problems. However, maternal and paternal depressive symptoms increased the risk of sleep disturbances in children, with maternal depressive symptoms directly impacting infant sleep and also indirectly through bonding difficulties.

The study emphasizes the importance of early identification and support for mother–child bonding challenges, especially for mothers with depressive symptoms or bonding difficulties, to improve infant sleep outcomes. Enhancing parent–infant interactions through targeted interventions or psychotherapy may prevent the development of a detrimental cycle that negatively affects family well-being. Supporting strong bonds can foster healthier sleep patterns and overall family dynamics.

The research involved tracking over 2 years, collecting data from nearly 2,500 parents at different stages—from pregnancy to two years postpartum. This extensive data collection across four time points allowed for a detailed analysis of how bonding problems influence sleep patterns over time. The study is part of the CHILD-SLEEP project, a collaborative effort by several Finnish institutions, aiming to better understand early childhood sleep issues and parental influences.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-mother-bonding-difficulties-linked-child.html