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Sleep patterns of infants in the first year of life
1Department of Child Health, University of Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Breastfeeding infants are more likely to wake at night during their first year. This study found no link between waking and social class, mother's parity, or infant weight gain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infant Sleep Behavior
- Lactation Studies
Background:
- Infant sleep patterns are crucial for child development and parental well-being.
- Understanding factors influencing infant night waking is essential for evidence-based parenting advice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between infant feeding methods and night waking patterns.
- To identify potential confounding factors affecting infant sleep.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 132 infants aged 1 month to 1 year.
- Data collection on feeding methods (breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, mixed), social class, maternal parity, and infant weight gain.
- Analysis of night waking frequency throughout the first year.
Main Results:
- Infants fed via breastfeeding or mixed feeding (breast plus bottle) showed significantly higher night waking frequency.
- No consistent associations were found between night waking and family social class, mother's parity, or infant weight gain.
- The increased waking was not attributed to mothers extending breastfeeding to soothe infants.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding and mixed feeding are associated with increased infant night waking in the first year.
- Factors such as social class, maternal parity, and infant weight gain do not appear to consistently influence this pattern.
- The findings suggest that increased night waking in breastfed infants is an inherent aspect of this feeding method, not a result of maternal soothing practices.
Abstract:
A prospective study of 132 infants aged from 1 month to 1 year found that infants who were breast fed or breast plus bottle fed were significantly more likely to wake at night throughout the first year. Social class of the family, parity of the mother, and the weight gain of the infant had no consistent effects. This increased waking was not due to mothers of wakeful infants prolonging breast feeding to soothe their infants.