1. MILLIONS OF U.K. PARENTS AWAKE AT NIGHT

The calculations below are made using a combination of figures from the

• ALSPAC Survey of 14,000 families (Avon Longtitudinal Study of Parents and Children) - further info on www.alspac.bris.ac.uk
• Office for National Statistics population/birth figures from Jan 2001 to June 2002. Download pdf and see Table 3.2, p 52

For the 18 month period from Jan 2001 - June 2002 there were:

• 994,300 live births (table 2.1 p.48, Health Statistics Quarterly 16, Winter 2002)
• of which 63.37% were registered to parents living at the same address
• 36.63% were registered singly or with parents living at different addresses

There are currently approx. 1,624,388 parents with babies 0-18 months.

To estimate how many of these parents are being kept awake most nights:

Using an average of 6 / 18 month figures for the older babies (41.3% wake) and 4 week figures for 1 / 3 weeks (84.6% - the younger babies) we can safely conclude that:

• At least half a million babies are awake most nights at least once (554,155)
• That means that nearly a million UK parents (905,322) are being woken up MOST NIGHTS
• If we add the occasional figures, that brings us to 756,933 babies awake always or sometimes, and
• a total of 1,236,600 parents awake at nights always or sometimes.

On these figures, the night-time disruption of an estimated 716,896 UK parents (66.2% of the 1,082,925 parents with babies 6 to18 months) may well be unnecessary or avoidable - as this is the age at which experts agree that a significant proportion of night waking is largely curable using clinically proven techniques.

2. The Good Sleep Guide for You and Your Baby

Recent USER SAMPLE SURVEY by ABC Health - Dec.2002

Who buys the Baby Sleep Guide - and why?

• The average age of the baby in each family was 8 months when the guide was purchased.
  
• 62% purchased it for their first baby
  
• 74% purchased it to find a cure for infant night waking (the rest for prevention)
  
• Before buying the guide, the average length of time families had endured the problem was: 22 weeks - 5 months - before getting help.

Familes experiences at night

Of those 44 babies already born, 48% of parents felt the night waking qualified to have the description 'sleep problem' and 52% - 23 of parents instead felt it was 'disruptive'.

The average number of times parents reported being woken in the night was:

• (Babies 1-4 months) - 3 times (best av. ) - 4 times (worst av.) (worst case 6 times)
• (Babies 5-11 months) - 4 times (best av.) - 7 times (worst av.) (worst case 25 times)
• (Babies 12+ months) - 3 times (best av.) - 6 times (worst av.) (worst case 8 times)

Effects of sleep deprivation

In families where babies were already born:

• 32% (one third) reported these effects as having serious effects on their lives / health
• 48% reported these effects as moderately bad

Results of using the guide

• 78% of parents using the guide said they had carried out the 'baby sleep programme' *
• Total Cure - 53%
• Almost total Cure - 31%
• Partial Cure - 16%

So 84% of those carrying out the baby sleep programme experienced a total or almost total cure of night waking, with 100% having a partial cure or better.

* N.B. The full sleep programme is only recommended for those babies 6 months and above. Reasons for not following the programme were given as: baby was ill, wanted to combine methods with other ideas, baby vomited when left alone, etc. Of those babies either eligible or well enough for the programme, only 3/ 36 of those eligible to do either the main or graded programmes - only 9% decided not to fully take the advice of the guide.

How long did it take?

For those following the sleep programme:

• 50% of parents took 5 days or less to achieve their total/almost total or partial cure
• The average length was 6 days
• The longest was 14 days

Opinion of health visitor advice about baby sleep problems:

Excellent 2%
Good 20%
Not very useful 30%
Counterproductive 9%
I did not receive advice 39%

A total of 78% of parents either received no advice, counterproductive advice, or advice which was not useful to them - but this may be why they had bought this book - and it is to be hoped does not accurately reflect the experiences of the population as a whole.

How the survey was carried out:

350 recent users of the guide were contacted by email or post and 100 people agreed to complete survey forms. 46 completed forms were received back.

For further info, contact Angela Henderson on : 07762 610252 or 01309 671723

New ABC Health Survey of 100 Health Visitors
Dec 2002

How often are health visitors asked for help with baby sleep problems?
Very often: 71%
Regularly: 26%
Sometimes: 3%

Availability of literature for health visitors on baby sleep problems
Inadequate resources for parents: 58%
Inadquate resources for their own use: 36%

Health visitors who had already seen The Good Sleep Guide:
Usefulness of this guide in their work
Extremely useful: 80%
Quite useful: 20%
Not useful: zero