The relationship between babywearing and breastfeeding

Abstract

Introduction. Wearing baby in a sling is one of the elements of childcare. There is a lack of scientific research describing the phenomenon of babywearing and analyzing its impact on the way of feeding the child.

Aim. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between carrying a baby in a sling and the way of feeding a child. In the case of breastfeeding women, the effect of babywearing on the length of breastfeeding was studied.

Material and Method. The research was carried out by means of a diagnostic survey, using a proprietary questionnaire, in the period of September 2017 - January 2019. The study was conducted among 976 women who had one or more children. In statistical analyzes, the significance level p <0.05 was assumed. Analyzes were made using the SPSS program.

Results. Children were most often exclusively breastfed. There was no statistically significant relationship between the delivery route and the method of feeding children. Most women had the opportunity to wear or carry a baby in a sling (82%). Statistical analysis using the chi-square independence test showed a statistically significant relationship between the fact of carrying the baby in the sling and the place of residence (p <0.001). a statistically significant relationship was found between the way of feeding a child and the fact of carrying a child in a sling (p <0.001). Children who were carried in a sling were fed only breastfeed, rarely artificially fed. There were significant differences in the average breastfeeding time, between the women who were carrying the baby in the sling, and the women who did not carry the baby (p <0.001). The women who carried the baby in the sling for a longer time were breastfeeding the baby.

Key words: Breastfeeding, childcare, babywearing