Development of a user-centred and evidence-based novel eHealth online sleep program for infant sleep problems

About 25% of families have sleep problems with their baby during the first year, which can impact parental health and the baby's development and behaviour. While researchers know what works to improve sleep, families do not have universal access to baby sleep programs that are based on best clinical practices and up-to-date research. Families often turn to unregulated sleep products or sleep-coaching services, which can be expensive and not research-based. Offering research-based sleep programs online (eHealth) could help parents access high-quality service options. To take advantage of eHealth options, we need to know more about the 'active ingredients' to include in a parent-centered online program that helps parents learn how to help their baby sleep better. My fellowship goal is to develop and test an online sleep program to improve parents' access to best available information about how to help their baby sleep better. I will lead three studies to do this. First, I will systematically review existing research to determine what makes baby sleep programs and parent-centered eHealth programs effective. Next, I will gather information from parents, as well as parenting and sleep experts, about factors that may influence the use of an online baby sleep program. Finally, after developing an online baby sleep program prototype, I will test its usability with an online pilot test and survey with parents. These research studies will result in a final version of an online baby sleep program (Better Nights, Better Days for Babies). Following my fellowship, I will test this final version in a multi-centre trial to assess its short- and long-term effects on family sleep and child development. If effects are positive, I will test how well the program scales up for use across Canada and other countries. This program could increase access to research-based advice for families who are struggling with their baby's sleep and support overall child development and family wellbeing.