The relationships between aspects of parenting and infants' sleep patterns
were studied longitudinally with 81 mother-child pairs. Mothers' parenting
orientation at 6 months was defined using the Facilitator-Regulator distinc
tion. When the infants were 12 months old, mother and child participated in
a laboratory-based developmental assessment which involved a brief separat
ion episode. Upon reunion, mothers reported on their concerns during separa
tion; they also described their child's sleep. It was found that high mater
nal separation anxiety was related to night waking. In addition, night waki
ng was more frequent among first born babies of Facilitators compared with
Regulators. How maternal separation anxiety and care-giving orientation reg
ulate aspects of the child's sleep awaits further explanation.