Managing infant sleep problems significantly reduces maternal depression symptoms, and shows no long term adverse effects to the mother or the child.

A study at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI), published in American medical journal 'Pediatrics', has found that using behavioural interventions to improve infants sleep not only tackles postnatal depression, but also has no long term adverse effects on a mother's parenting practices or a child's mental health.

"Maternal depression is consistently associated with infant sleep problems," says Dr Harriet Hiscock, the study’s lead author.

Snooze recommends any parents experiencing maternal depression symptoms contact their local maternal child heath nurse.