Nurturing care for early childhood sleep interventions with tailored care: the NEST Approach


BORAN P., DelRosso L. M.

Sleep Medicine Reviews, cilt.86, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 86
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102241
  • Dergi Adı: Sleep Medicine Reviews
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Psycinfo
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Early childhood, Infant, Insomnia, Nurturing care, Sleep
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Early childhood insomnia (ECI) affects 20–30 % of children aged 6–36 months, making it the most common sleep disturbance in this age group. Current interventions often focus on independent sleep through extinction-based behavioral methods, with less emphasis on broader socioecological influences such as caregiving quality and feeding practices. This paper introduces a conceptual model to reframe ECI interventions using the World Health Organization endorsed Nurturing care framework (NCF), which includes five components: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and security, responsive caregiving and opportunities for learning. Sleep is essential for health, and early childhood represent a critical window for shaping lifelong sleep patterns. Breastfeeding helps integration of all five components while responsive caregiving, supports the other four components. Sensory-motor nourishment fosters a sense of safety and early learning opportunities promote self-regulation. The model outlines actionable strategies under each NCF components, offering guidance for researchers and supporting adaptation across diverse settings, viewing sleep health as part of a broader caregiver ecosystem rather than isolated behavioral problem.