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RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BREAST‐FEEDING, CO‐SLEEPING, AND SOMATIC COMPLAINTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
Author(s) -
Peters Elisabeth Maria,
Lusher Joanne Marie,
Banbury Samantha,
Chandler Chris
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.21583
Subject(s) - somatic cell , early childhood , sleep (system call) , intervention (counseling) , medicine , pediatrics , psychology , psychiatry , developmental psychology , biology , computer science , operating system , biochemistry , gene
The central aim of this study was to expand a limited body of knowledge on the complex relationship between breast‐feeding, co‐sleeping, and somatic complaints in early childhood. An opportunity sample of 98 parents from the general population with children aged 18 to 60 months consented to participate in the study. Each parent completed a series of questionnaires measuring somatic complaints, sleep problems, co‐sleeping, breast‐feeding, and demographic factors. Findings indicated that co‐sleeping was associated with increased somatic complaints and that breast‐feeding associated with decreased somatic complaints. Co‐sleeping also was found to be associated with an increase in sleep problems. Boys demonstrated significantly higher levels of sleep problems than did girls. These findings highlight the relationship between co‐sleeping during early childhood, which could have implications for prevention, treatment, and intervention regarding somatic complaints and sleep problems in early childhood.