Brown Amy, Arnott Bronia
Department of Public Health and Policy Studies, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom.
Department of Psychology, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2014 Feb 12;9(2):e83893. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083893. eCollection 2014.
Popular parenting literature promotes different approaches to caring for infants, based around variations in the use of parent-led routines and promoting infant independence. However, there is little empirical evidence of how these early behaviours affect wider parenting choices such as infant feeding. Breastfeeding often requires an infant-led approach, feeding on demand and allowing the infant to regulate intake whilst conversely formula feeding is open to greater caregiver manipulation. The infant-led style associated with breastfeeding may therefore be at odds with philosophies that encourage strict use of routine and independence. The aim of this study was to explore the association between early parenting behaviours and breastfeeding duration.
Five hundred and eight mothers with an infant aged 0-12 months completed a questionnaire examining breastfeeding duration, attitudes and behaviours surrounding early parenting (e.g. anxiety, use of routine, involvement, nurturance and discipline). Participants were attendees at baby groups or participants of online parenting forums based in the UK.
Formula use at birth or short breastfeeding duration were significantly associated with low levels of nurturance, high levels of reported anxiety and increased maternal use of Parent-led routines. Conversely an infant-led approach characterised by responding to and following infant cues was associated with longer breastfeeding duration.
Maternal desire to follow a structured parenting approach which purports use of Parent-led routines and early demands for infant independence may have a negative impact upon breastfeeding duration. Increased maternal anxiety may further influence this relationship. The findings have important implications for Health Professionals supporting new mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
流行的育儿文献倡导不同的婴儿护理方法，这些方法围绕着父母主导的日常安排的差异以及促进婴儿独立性展开。然而，关于这些早期行为如何影响更广泛的育儿选择（如婴儿喂养）的实证证据很少。母乳喂养通常需要一种以婴儿为主导的方法，按需喂养并让婴儿调节摄入量，而配方奶喂养则更容易受到照顾者的操控。因此，与母乳喂养相关的以婴儿为主导的方式可能与鼓励严格使用日常安排和独立性的理念不一致。本研究的目的是探讨早期育儿行为与母乳喂养持续时间之间的关联。
508名有0至12个月婴儿的母亲完成了一份问卷，该问卷调查了母乳喂养持续时间、围绕早期育儿的态度和行为（如焦虑、日常安排的使用、参与度、养育和管教）。参与者是英国婴儿小组的参与者或在线育儿论坛的参与者。
出生时使用配方奶或母乳喂养持续时间短与养育水平低、报告的焦虑水平高以及母亲更多地使用父母主导的日常安排显著相关。相反，以回应和遵循婴儿线索为特征的以婴儿为主导的方式与更长的母乳喂养持续时间相关。
母亲遵循一种声称使用父母主导的日常安排和对婴儿独立性的早期要求的结构化育儿方法的愿望可能会对母乳喂养持续时间产生负面影响。母亲焦虑的增加可能会进一步影响这种关系。这些发现对在孕期和产后为新妈妈提供支持的健康专业人员具有重要意义。
