![Sample our Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing & Allied Health journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5944/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Medicine-Dentistry-Nursing-Allied-Health.jpg"})
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between breastfeeding and sleep in a longitudinal study of infants. Ninety-two mothers of exclusively breast-fed (n = 36) and exclusively formula-fed (n = 56) infants completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire at baseline (age of enrollment = 3 to 12 months) and at four follow-up visits (3, 6, 9, and 12 to 18 months). Breast-fed infants had more disrupted sleep at baseline including increased night wakings and sleep fragmentation; however, these differences disappeared by the 9-month follow-up. Furthermore, by the 6-month follow-up, parental presence at sleep onset played a more important role in sleep outcomes than breastfeeding. These findings suggest that sleep disruptions associated with breastfeeding resolve over time.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study was supported by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.
Notes
Conflicts of interest: Dr. Mindell, Dr. Du Mond, and Jason Tanenbaum serve as research consultants for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co. Mr. Gunn is an employee of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Co.