Abstract

AIM
  To investigate whether the use of baby carriers by term infants during the first month of life is associated with increased rates of breastfeeding.
METHODS
  Prospective cohort study. Two hundred mothers with healthy term infants were assigned to receive either a baby carrier and some accurate information and training about the use thereof or only information about breastfeeding. Study groups were followed by phone interviews.
RESULTS
  Of the 100 mothers to whom baby carriers were provided, 69 utilized it for at least 1 h per day during the first month of life, while 31 did not use it at all. While breastfeeding rates were similar in both intervention and control groups at discharge from the maternity ward, mothers in the intervention group scored significantly higher with their infants at two (72% vs 51%) and at 5 months of age (48% vs 24%), respectively. The intervention group infants were breastfed significantly more frequently than those of the control group.
CONCLUSIONS
  Our finding seems to suggest that the use of baby carriers in healthy term infants during their first month is associated with increased breastfeeding duration.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Pisacane A, Continisio P, Filosa C, Tagliamonte V, Continisio GI

Institution

Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Federico, via S. Pansini 5, Naples, Italy. pisacane@unina.it

Source

Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 101:10 2012 Oct pg e434-8

MeSH

Adult
Breast Feeding
Female
Health Promotion
Humans
Infant
Infant Equipment
Infant, Newborn
Intervention Studies
Italy
Mothers
Prospective Studies
Time Factors
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22734604