The association between baby care books that promote strict care routines and infant feeding, night‐time care, and maternal–infant interactions

Abstract

Baby care books that promote strict infant care routines are popular, but little research has considered their impact upon maternal infant care behaviours. We explored whether mothers who have read these books guide their infant care behaviours based on their concepts and how this is associated with infant feeding, night‐time care, and response to infant's needs. Three hundred and fifty‐four U.K. mothers with a baby aged 0–12 months completed an online questionnaire exploring use of baby care books, motivations for use, whether guidance was followed, and infant care behaviours. Mothers who read the books were drawn to them for information about how to settle their infant, infant sleep, and infant feeding behaviour. Those who read the books were less likely to breastfeed, feed responsively, have their infant sleep in the same room, cuddle their infant to sleep, or respond promptly to infant cries. Although the causality between reading these books and care cannot be determined through this study design, and is likely bidirectional with some reading the books to confirm existing preferences, around 25–40% of mothers noted the information determined their care decisions. Regardless of specific causal pathways, there is an association between these books and behaviours that go against infant feeding and responsive care recommendations. Understanding what drives mothers to follow these books and increasing support for new mothers in these areas is important. The findings will be important for those supporting mothers in the perinatal period in starting conversations around responsive infant care.

Perceived insufficient milk among primiparous, fully breastfeeding women: Is infant crying important?

“…Only 6% of women reported adopting this practice and it may be a spurious finding. Alternatively, this small proportion of infants may have an easy-going nature, with few breastfeeding problems and difficulties in soothing themselves, resulting in their mothers allowing them to self-soothe more often (Harries & Brown, 2019). This variable may be also capturing a different aspect of maternally reported responses to crying unrelated to breastfeeding which may warrant further exploration.…”

“Struggle at night – He doesn’t let me sleep sometimes”: a qualitative analysis of sleeping habits and routines of Hispanic toddlers at risk for obesity

“…This stepdown approach is also more physiologic for maintaining a breastfeeding relationship, i.e. for the AAP-recommended 12 months and beyond [26,57], compared to complete cessation of overnight feeds at four months that many commercial sleep training books recommend [18,41]. Children still taking a bottle of cow's milk several times a night after 12 months would be a red flag for intervention; as this is a risk for rapid weight gain as well as anemia [36,58,59].…”

“…Sleep researchers make specific recommendations for infant sleep duration starting at four months; as prior to that age there is significant variability [ 8 ]; frequent parent responsiveness is also key to strong attachments [ 18 ]. From six to twelve months, there are fewer variations in sleep latency and duration; however as early as six months, 20–30% of infants experience sleep difficulties with frequent night wakings [ 19 ].…”

“Struggle at Night – He Doesn’t Let Me Sleep Sometimes”: A Qualitative Analysis of Sleeping Habits and Routines of Hispanic Toddlers at Risk for Obesity

“…for the AAP-recommended 12 months and beyond, 21,49 compared to complete cessation of overnight feeds at four months that many commercial sleep training books recommend. 37,50 Children still taking a bottle of cow's milk several times a night after 12 months would be a red ag for intervention; as this is a risk for rapid weight gain as well as anemia. 32,51,52 Pediatricians are trained to treat the patient in front of them in the exam room; only recently has there been a shift to "social medicine" in training and considering a patient's full socioecological framework.…”