0979 INFANT FEEDING AND NOCTURNAL SLEEP

Abstract

Breast milk has many advantages, but many caregivers believe that due to the easily digestible nature of breast milk, infants feeding with breast milk would have more nocturnal awakenings. As a result, formula is often given in an attempt to consolidate infant sleep. However, few studies have examined infant feeding and sleep using objective instruments. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between infant feeding and nocturnal sleep patterns. This study included 78 healthy 6-month-old infants. Mothers provided information about demographic background, infant feeding patterns, and completed the Extended version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Infant sleep was measured by both actigraphy and sleep diary for 7 consecutive days. Infants were categorized into three different feeding types: infants feeding with exclusive breast milk (n=26, 33.3%), with mixed of breast milk and formula (n=18, 23.1%), or with exclusive formula (n=34, 43.6%). Infants were also categorized into two different feeding practice groups: infants who were breastfed (n=29, 37.2%) and those who were exclusively bottle-fed (n=49, 62.8%). Actigraphy derived sleep parameters, including actual sleep at night, wake after sleep onset, and fragmentation index, did not differ significantly among infants with different feeding types and practices. Infants who were breastfed had significantly more nocturnal awakenings by maternal report than those who were bottle-fed (1.97 ± 1.45 vs. 1.31 ± 1.28, p=0.04). Breastfeeding mothers’ PPS scores were significantly higher than mothers who bottle-fed their infants (18.93 ± 6.39 vs. 14.8 ± 6.06, p=0.004). Objective actigraphic sleep estimates are not compromised in infants who are breastfed or fed with breast milk. Mothers who are concerned that breastfeeding would disrupt infant sleep should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding and providing breast milk. More support should also be given to breastfeeding mothers to reduce their breastfeeding-related stress. This research was funded by National Health Research Institute (NHRI-EX105-10229PC).