Assessment of sleep status in 6 to 18-month-old infants consuming cerealc

Introduction: Sleep is particularly important in children because it affects their physical and mental evolution. Sleep disorders are seen in 20% to 30% of children. Cereal is being distributed as one of the complementary foods at the pharmacies in Iran. This study is designed to study the sleep status of cereal-consuming infants in order to take a step forward in improving cereal prescribing. Method: This study was carried out on 202 infants 6 - 18 months old in 2018. The control group included infants who did not consume cereal and the case group included infants who had consumed at least one can of cereal (nestle brand) for at least one month. Data were collected using the “brief infant sleep questionnaire” by asking from parents. Results: The study indicated that the infants’ sleep status in both groups is inappropriate compared to global sleep standards. Consuming cereal had significant relation with onset time to fall asleep (sleep onset latency), the total sleep time during the night, the frequency of waking up during the night, sweating, and parents claiming sleep disorder in their babies. However, the infants' total sleep time during the day, their sleeping habits, the way to fall asleep, bedtime, type of delivery, birth weight, current weight, and sex were not significantly associated with cereal consumption. Conclusion: Sleep disorders were more common in cereal-consuming infants compared to infants who did not consume cereal.