Skip to main content

Falling Asleep While Feeding Infants Commonly Reported by Mothers

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 13, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13, 2024 -- Falling asleep while feeding (FAF) infants is reported commonly among U.S. mothers and is predominantly unplanned, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in Pediatrics.

Fern R. Hauck, M.D., from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and colleagues examined maternally reported prevalence of FAF and the association between FAF and sociodemographic factors, feeding method, and sleep location. The analysis included data from 1,259 mothers participating in the postpartum survey as part of the Social Media and Risk-reduction Training study.

The researchers found that 28.2 percent of mothers reported FAF usually or sometimes in the last two weeks, with 83.4 percent reporting that FAF was unplanned. The odds of FAF were similar by sociodemographic factors. Mothers who reported feeding in a chair were less likely to FAF (33.6 versus 16.8 percent; adjusted odds ratio, 0.41) compared with mothers whose nighttime feeding location was their bed. Additionally, FAF was reported less frequently by mothers who received safe sleep interventions (15.6 percent) versus mothers who received breastfeeding interventions (33.0 percent; adjusted odds ratio, 0.40).

"New parents need guidance on planning for optimal safety during infant feeding," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

No Increase Seen in Neurodevelopmental Disorders With Prenatal Triptan Use

WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- Children prenatally exposed to different triptan intensities and duration, alone or in combination with other preventive medications for migraine, do...

Metabolic Dysfunction-Linked Steatotic Liver Disease Tied to Increased Preterm Birth Risk

TUESDAY, May 20, 2025 -- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in pregnant women is a risk factor for preterm birth, according to a study published...

All-Cause Mortality Higher With Sleep Deprivation in Seniors With Epilepsy

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 -- Older adults with sleep deprivation and epilepsy have an elevated risk for all-cause mortality, according to a study published online April 23 in...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.