The impact of feeding method and infant sleep location on mother/ infant sleep, maternal depression, and mothers' well-being

Abstract

Previous studies have found that exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) mothers get more sleep and report higher levels of well-being than mothers who are not EBF. We do not know whether infant sleep location influences these findings. The present analyses are from the Survey of Mothers' Sleep and Fatigue, an online survey of 6,410 mothers from 59 countries. Feeding method and sleep location do interact and are related to babies' and mothers' sleep and measures of mothers' well-being. EBF/bedsharing mothers reported more sleep, better physical health, and less depression, anger, and anxiety than non-EBF or nonbedsharing mothers. Conversely, bedsharing/non-EBF mothers had some of the worst outcomes. Bedsharing was related to positive outcomes for EBF mothers. Our findings are consistent with recommendations that non-EBF mothers avoid bedsharing.