This literature review presents the main organic, psychological and cultural factors influencing the sleeping habits of infants. By means of a clinical-anthropological approach, the interrelation between these habits and biobehavioral and psychosocial stressing factors is described, as well as cultural practices such as shared bed, night feeding, transitional objects and use of dummies. It presents some measures that may modulate the physiology of sleep and home practices of sleeping in childhood.
Infant, newborn; Sleep; Cultural factors