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Breastfeeding and infant temperament at age three months.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Lauzon-Guillain, Blandine de 
Clark, Matthew 
Acerini, Carlo L 
Hughes, Ieuan A 

Abstract

BACKGROUND & METHODS: To examine the relationship between breastfeeding and maternally-rated infant temperament at age 3 months, 316 infants in the prospective Cambridge Baby Growth Study, UK had infant temperament assessed at age 3 months by mothers using the Revised Infant Behavior Questionnaire, which produces scores for three main dimensions of temperament derived from 14 subscales. Infant temperament scores were related to mode of infant milk feeding at age 3 months (breast only; formula milk only; or mixed) with adjustment for infant's age at assessment and an index of deprivation. RESULTS: Infant temperament dimension scores differed across the three infant feeding groups, but appeared to be comparable between exclusive breast-fed and mixed-fed infants. Compared to formula milk-fed infants, exclusive breast-fed and mixed-fed infants were rated as having lower impulsivity and positive responses to stimulation (adjusted mean [95% CI] "Surgency/Extraversion" in formula-fed vs. mixed-fed vs. breast-fed groups: 4.3 [4.2-4.5] vs. 4.0 [3.8-4.1] vs. 4.0 [3.9-4.1]; p-heterogeneity = 0.0006), lower ability to regulate their own emotions ("Orienting/Regulation": 5.1 [5.0-5.2], vs. 4.9 [4.8-5.1] vs. 4.9 [4.8-5.0]; p = 0.01), and higher emotional instability ("Negative affectivity": 2.8 [2.6-2.9] vs. 3.0 [2.8-3.1] vs. 3.0 [2.9-3.1]; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Breast and mixed-fed infants were rated by their mothers as having more challenging temperaments in all three dimensions; particular subscales included greater distress, less smiling, laughing, and vocalisation, and lower soothability. Increased awareness of the behavioural dynamics of breastfeeding, a better expectation of normal infant temperament and support to cope with difficult infant temperament could potentially help to promote successful breastfeeding.

Description

Keywords

Aging, Breast Feeding, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant Formula, Male, Mothers, Multivariate Analysis, Sex Characteristics, Temperament

Journal Title

PLoS One

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1932-6203
1932-6203

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via West Anglia Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN)) (11822)
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) via Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN) (UKCRN 15224)
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via West Anglia Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN)) (UKCRN 11822)
Medical Research Council (G0600717)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/2)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/3)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179472)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179473)