Association between breastfeeding and sleep patterns in infants and preschool children

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Association between breastfeeding and sleep patterns in infants and preschool children
Title:
Association between breastfeeding and sleep patterns in infants and preschool children
Journal Title:
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Date:
19 August 2021
Citation:
Abdul Jafar, N. K., Tham, E. K. H., Pang, W. W., Fok, D., Chua, M. C., Teoh, O.-H., … Cai, S. (2021). Association between breastfeeding and sleep patterns in infants and preschool children. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqab297
Abstract:
ABSTRACT Background Although most studies have reported unfavorable short-term effects of breastfeeding on early-childhood sleep-wake behaviors that potentially attenuate over time, findings have remained inconsistent. Objectives We assessed associations of breastfeeding with longitudinal day-, night-, and total-sleep trajectories and with sleep-wake behaviors in healthy infants and preschoolers. Methods Caregivers of naturally conceived, term, singleton infants (n = 654) completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 mo) and/or Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (54 mo), and provided information on their infants’ breastfeeding status at 3 mo. Trajectory analyses derived 4 day- (n = 243), 3 night- (n = 248), and/or 4 total- (n = 241) sleep trajectories, each differing in length of sleep duration (short/moderate/long) and variability (variable/consistent). Sleep-wake behaviors from 3 to 24 mo (day/night/total-sleep durations and duration/number of night awakenings) were also assessed for associations with breastfeeding. Results After adjusting for potential covariates, formula-fed infants, relative to fully breastfed (predominant or exclusive) infants, were significantly less likely to exhibit moderate (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.70) and long consistent (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.50) night-sleep trajectories and less likely to exhibit moderate (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.61) and long consistent (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.38) and long variable (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.56) total-sleep trajectories, instead of short variable night- and total-sleep trajectories. Partially breastfed infants did not differ from fully breastfed infants for both night- and total-sleep trajectories. No significant differences were found between all groups for day-sleep trajectories. Fully breastfed infants had longer night- (6, 9, 12, and 24 mo) and total- (3 and 12 mo) sleep durations than formula-fed infants, albeit a greater number of night awakenings (from 6 to 12 mo). Conclusions Despite more night awakenings, fully breastfed infants have overall longer night- and total-sleep durations (sleep trajectories) than formula-fed infants.
License type:
Publisher Copyright
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) - Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Programme
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/004-NUS/2008

This research / project is supported by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) - Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Programme
Grant Reference no. : NMRC/TCR/012-NUHS/2014

This research is supported by core funding from: Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR
Grant Reference no. :
Description:
ISSN:
0002-9165
1938-3207
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