Breastfeeding, bed-sharing, and infant sleep.
BACKGROUND
Expectations for infant sleep development and for the appropriate degree of parental proximity for infant sleep are culturally weighted and historically shifting aspects of parenting behavior, and are known to affect breastfeeding prevalence and duration. This paper examined how new parents managed night-time feeding in the first 4 months, with a particular focus on the relationship between breastfeeding, infant sleep location, and sleep bout duration.


METHODS
Sleep logs and semistructured interviews were used with a sample of 253 families in North Tees, United Kingdom, to explore how parents responded to their infant's sleep patterns, how breastfeeding parents managed night-time feeding, and whether bed-sharing was a common strategy.


RESULTS
A clear relationship between breastfeeding and parent-infant bed-sharing was demonstrated. Some evidence indicated that bed-sharing may promote breastfeeding.


CONCLUSIONS
An understanding of the role of infant feeding practice on infant sleep and parental caregiving at night is a crucial element in breastfeeding promotion and enhancement of infant health. Health professionals should discuss safe bed-sharing practices with all parents.
Ball
Helen L
HL
Parent-Infant Sleep Lab and Infant and Child Research Group, Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom.
D000328:Adult; D001513:Beds; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012890:Sleep; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom