Compared to full term , premature infants exhibit significant differences in sleep structure , which mainly include differences in electroencephalographic spectral values , in total sleep time and in arousal threshold .
Furthermore , prematurity seems to be a risk factor of sleep breathing disorders in childhood and adolescence .
Conclusions The alterations in sleep patterns are an outcome of prematurity ( immaturity of nervous system ) as well as of postnatal factors and comorbidities .
Sleep problems in this population of infants seems to be a missing piece of the puzzle of impaired neurodevelopment .
Background Sleep undergoes changes from birth to adulthood , while sleep disorders are associated with various cognitive deficiencies in childhood .
In parallel , prematurity is known to predispose to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes .
Our aim is to provide literature data about factors influencing sleep in the premature infants and sleep outcomes in this population .
Biobehavioral Responses of Preterm Infants to Conventional and Swaddled Tub Baths: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Bathing is a routine care procedure that exposes preterm infants to prolonged h and ling , which could cause stress and potentially disrupt infants ' biobehavioral responses . The aim of this double-blind r and omized crossover trial was to compare the preterm infant 's body temperature , heart rate ( HR ) , peripheral capillary oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) , salivary cortisol levels , and sleep-wake states during and after swaddled and conventional tub baths .  Forty-three infants born at 32 to 36 weeks postmenstrual age , weighing 2225 g or less , were enrolled in the study . Infants were videotaped before and after each type of baths . The time interval between baths ranged from 24 to 72 hours to allow a washout period . Physiological , hormonal , and behavioral responses were collected at baseline and during recovery from baths . No significant differences in the mean body temperature , HR , SpO2 , salivary cortisol levels , and sleep-wake states between the bath types were observed in the baseline or recovery responses during the first 20 minutes after bath . Regardless of bath type , salivary cortisol levels showed a nonstatistical significant increase
Compared to full term , premature infants exhibit significant differences in sleep structure , which mainly include differences in electroencephalographic spectral values , in total sleep time and in arousal threshold .
Furthermore , prematurity seems to be a risk factor of sleep breathing disorders in childhood and adolescence .
Conclusions The alterations in sleep patterns are an outcome of prematurity ( immaturity of nervous system ) as well as of postnatal factors and comorbidities .
Sleep problems in this population of infants seems to be a missing piece of the puzzle of impaired neurodevelopment .
Background Sleep undergoes changes from birth to adulthood , while sleep disorders are associated with various cognitive deficiencies in childhood .
In parallel , prematurity is known to predispose to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes .
Our aim is to provide literature data about factors influencing sleep in the premature infants and sleep outcomes in this population .