The association between use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, and maternal depression, self-efficacy, and parenting confidence

ABSTRACT

The transition to motherhood can be challenging. The baby book market has taken advantage of this, publishing a range of books that suggest adopting strict routines for infant sleep, feeding, and general care. Despite their multi-million sales, their impact has not been established. The aim of this study was to explore the maternal experience of using these books, and the association with maternal well-being. Three hundred and fifty-four mothers with an infant aged 0–12 months reported use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, experience of using them, and measures of postnatal depression, maternal self-efficacy and parenting stress. Use of the books was associated with increased depressive symptoms and stress, alongside lower self-efficacy, although experience of using the books predicted this. Although those who found the books useful had greater well-being, the majority did not find them useful, which was associated with lower well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Motherhood
• responsive parenting
• maternal well-being
• postnatal depression
• infant routine
• self-efficacy
• parenting stress
• baby-care books

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Victoria Harries was an MSc student on the MSc Child Public Health at Swansea University, who undertook the researchfor her MSc dissertation.

Dr Amy Brown is an Associate Professor in Child Public Health at Swansea University who supervised the work.