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Patterns of infant‐only wake bouts and night feeds during early infancy: An exploratory study using actigraphy in mother‐father‐infant triads
Author(s) -
Adams Elizabeth L.,
Master Lindsay,
Buxton Orfeu M.,
Savage Jennifer S.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.12640
Subject(s) - actigraphy , medicine , pediatrics , demography , circadian rhythm , sociology
Summary Background Infants' ability to fall back to sleep without parental involvement may reduce nighttime feeding frequency. Objective We describe the associations between infant‐only wake bouts (“self‐soothing”) and nighttime feeds using actigraphy from 6 to 24 weeks of age. Methods Mother‐father‐infant triads (N = 20) wore sleep monitors, and mothers recorded infant night feeds, when infants were 6, 15 and 24 weeks of age. Actigraphy data were matched within‐families to quantify infant‐only wake bouts (infants woke; mothers/fathers remained asleep). Mixed models tested associations between infant‐only wake bouts and night feeding frequency. Results The proportion of infant‐only wake bouts/night increased from 6 to 15 weeks of age (6 weeks: 52% [95% CI: 45‐59]; 15 weeks: 64% [57‐71]; 24 weeks: 62% [55‐69]; P < .01). For every 10% increase in the proportion of infant‐only wake bouts/night, there were 0.36 fewer feeds/night ( P < .01) at 24 weeks; these concurrent associations were not found at 6 and 15 weeks. The proportion of infant‐only wake bouts/night at 6 weeks predicted a faster rate of decline in the number of feeds/night from 6 to 24 weeks ( P < .01). Conclusion Infants' ability to fall back to sleep without parent involvement at 6 weeks was associated with the trajectory of nighttime feeding frequency across early infancy.