Behavioral sleep interventions in children aged 0-5 years: A systematic review of content, delivery, and 24-hour sleep outcomes

BACKGROUND: Behavioral sleep interventions are widely implemented to address sleep difficulties in early childhood, yet existing reviews primarily evaluate intervention effectiveness in specific populations or focus on isolated outcomes such as nighttime sleep duration. A comprehensive synthesis mapping intervention characteristics across early childhood and identifying understudied areas is lacking. This systematic review aimed to (1) identify behavioral sleep interventions for typically developing children aged 0-5 years (0-71 months), (2) summarize the core sleep-related components addressed, (3) describe delivery characteristics (e.g., target population, format, setting, providers), and (4) summarize the sleep outcomes assessed and measurement methods used. METHODS: Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched on May 22, 2025. Eligible studies included quantitative interventions targeting sleep among typically developing children