Does my child have a sleep problem? : examining parent’s perception of children’s sleep habits and the association between parental knowledge and sleep hygiene

Parents are responsible for promoting optimal sleep for their children by engaging in healthy sleep hygiene, which is one of the factors that contributes to good sleep quality and quantity (Meltzer & Mindell, 2004; Owens et al., 2011). A gap in parental knowledge of appropriate sleep hygiene is one of potential causes for poor sleep hygiene in children (Meltzer & Mindell, 2004). Parental knowledge of sleep and what sleep habits parents consider to be a problem can depend on cultural norms (Adair & Bauchner, 1993; Jenni et al., 2005; Meltzer & Mindell, 2004). The aim of this study was twofold. First, to examine children‘s sleep habits in Iceland and if parents consider sleep habits on the Children‘s Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) to be a problem. Second, to examine parental knowledge on factors that can contribute to adequate sleep, or sleep problems, in children as well as the relationship between parental knowledge and a child‘s sleep hygiene. An online questionnaire including 49 questions was sent out to parents of 2 – 5 year old children in Iceland. A total of 1416 parents answered all questions in the questionnaire. There was a small but significant difference in parental knowledge and four activities in the child‘s bedtime routine (reading/telling a story, television viewing, taking a bath, and releasing energy). Furthermore, parents that reported that their child got sufficient sleep duration answered significantly more questions correctly regarding sleep knowledge. Less than a quarter of parents considered it a problem that their child was dependent on parental presence to fall asleep or fell asleep in parents'/sibling’s room even though it is considered a sleep problem according to CSHQ. This study highlights the importance of taking cultural values into account when examining sleep problems as well as the need for further research on parental knowledge of children‘s sleep and how parents in Iceland can be encouraged to implement healthy sleep hygiene. Keywords: Children‘s sleep habits, parental knowledge, cultural difference