The authors hereby declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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REGULAR ARTICLE
Use of baby carriers to increase breastfeeding duration among term infants: the effects of an educational intervention in Italy
Article first published online: 16 JUL 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02758.x
© 2012 The Author(s)/Acta Pædiatrica © 2012 Foundation Acta Pædiatrica
Additional Information
How to Cite
Pisacane, A., Continisio, P., Filosa, C., Tagliamonte, V. and Continisio, G. I. (2012), Use of baby carriers to increase breastfeeding duration among term infants: the effects of an educational intervention in Italy. Acta Paediatrica, 101: e434–e438. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02758.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 29 AUG 2012
- Article first published online: 16 JUL 2012
- Accepted manuscript online: 26 JUN 2012 12:30PM EST
- Received 13 March 2012; revised 1 June 2012; accepted 7 June 2012.
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Keywords:
- Baby carrier;
- Breastfeeding;
- Kangaroo mother care;
- Skin-to-skin contact;
- Term infants
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.