Sleep SAAF

Project Summary

Principal Investigator: Justin Lavner
Funding Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Project Period: 2017 – 2021
This study is a randomized controlled trial examining effective ways to increase healthy, safe sleep patterns among African American infants and mothers. Families are recruited from Augusta University Medical Center at the time of their child’s birth and subsequently complete follow-up visits in their homes when their infants are 1, 3, 8, and 16 weeks old. Families are randomly assigned to one of two intervention conditions: one focuses on how to respond to baby’s cues relating to sleeping and fussiness and the other focuses on creating a safe sleep environment and other strategies to keep baby safe. Results from the study will provide valuable insights about the best ways to support African American mothers and their infants early in life.