Women who breastfeed their children for a long time longer can exhibit more maternal sensitivity well past the infant and toddler years, this research is found after a 10-year-long study. Maternal sensitivity is called as the synchronous timing of a mother’s responsiveness to her baby, her emotional tone, her flexibility in her behaviour and her ability to read her child’s cues. Whereas the old research shows that breastfeeding for two months can cut the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome by half, and can help mothers cope with the changes taking place.
After interviewing with about 1,272 families researchers, including from Boise State University in the US, analysed data that they were recruited when their infants were a month old, mothers who participated in this interview and became part of the initial study sample. The sample has a substantial proportion of less- educated parents — 30% had no college education, and ethnic minority families — 13% were African-American.
The study results that even though increased breastfeeding duration led to greater maternal sensitivity over time, the effect sizes were small. That proves the close interaction experienced during breastfeeding may be only one of various ways the bond is strengthened between mother and child, said Jennifer Weaver from Boise State University. “It was surprising to us that breastfeeding duration predicted to change over time in maternal sensitivity,” the researcher Weaver said.
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