AANP Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Certification ExamPlanMedium
A 6-month-old infant is brought to the clinic for a well-child visit. The parents express concern about the infant's sleep patterns, specifically that the infant often wakes up crying multiple times during the night. They ask for advice on establishing healthy sleep habits. Which of the following non-pharmacological interventions is most appropriate to recommend for this infant?
- ACo-sleeping with the infant to facilitate immediate comfort and feeding.
- BIntroducing solid foods before bedtime to promote satiety and longer sleep intervals.
- CEstablishing a consistent bedtime routine and placing the infant in the crib drowsy but awake.
- DAllowing the infant to cry for extended periods until they self-soothe completely.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine and placing the infant in the crib drowsy but awake.
Establishing a consistent bedtime routine and placing the infant in the crib drowsy but awake promotes self-soothing and independent sleep, which are key components of healthy sleep habits. This approach helps infants learn to fall asleep on their own.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Co-sleeping is associated with an increased risk of SIDS and can hinder the development of independent sleep skills.
- B. Introducing solid foods before 4-6 months is not recommended and does not reliably improve sleep patterns; it can sometimes cause digestive upset.
- D. While 'cry it out' methods exist, allowing extended, uncontrolled crying can be distressing for both infant and parents and is not the most appropriate first-line recommendation for establishing healthy sleep habits.
Infant Sleep Training
Techniques used to help infants develop healthy and independent sleep habits, often involving consistent routines and self-soothing strategies.
- Focus on establishing routines.
- Encourage self-soothing.
- Avoid sleep associations like feeding to sleep.
Memory trick: Routine, Drowsy, Crib: RDC for a baby's sleepy bliss!