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Exploratory study of bed‐sharing and maternal‐infant bonding
Author(s) -
Mitchell Edwin A,
Hutchison B Lynne,
Thompson John MD,
Wouldes Trecia A
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.12833
Subject(s) - medicine , pacifier , breastfeeding , sudden infant death syndrome , pediatrics
Aim Bed‐sharing with an infant is controversial due to the increased risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy versus postulated benefits of the practice such as enhanced breastfeeding and maternal‐infant bonding. This study evaluated the association between bed‐sharing and maternal‐infant bonding. Methods Four hundred randomly selected mothers who had delivered in a large maternity unit in A uckland and whose infants were between the ages of 6 weeks and 4 months were sent a postal questionnaire asking about their bed‐sharing practices last night, usually, and in the last 2 weeks. Included in the questionnaire were factors 1 and 2 questions from the P ostpartum B onding Q uestionnaire to assess maternal‐infant bonding. Results Responders totalled 172 (43%), and infants were a mean age of 11 weeks. Fourteen per cent of infants slept in a bed‐sharing situation last night, 8% usually, and 41% had slept with an adult in the last 2 weeks. Nine per cent of mothers scored above the cut‐off for factor 1 for impaired maternal‐infant bonding. Infants of these mothers were more likely to bed‐share last night, usually, and in the last 2 weeks, and were less likely to use a pacifier and to breastfeed. Bed‐sharing mothers scored more highly on individual questions relating to being annoyed or irritated by their baby. Conclusion There is an inverse association between bed‐sharing and maternal‐infant bonding, which is contrary to the often expressed belief that bed‐sharing enhances maternal‐infant bonding.