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Breastfeeding May Help Infants Achieve Adequate Sleep

A nationwide birth cohort found lower odds of short sleep at 1 year among infants breastfed during the first 6 months of life, regardless of formula supplementation.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • July 15, 2026

  • 3 min

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Breastfeeding May Help Infants Achieve Adequate Sleep

Overview

A recent study suggests that breastfeeding during the first 6 months is associated with lower odds of short sleep duration in 1-year-old infants. The analysis of 82,918 mother-infant pairs indicates that exclusive breastfeeding is associated with the lowest odds of short sleep.

Background

Breastfeeding is linked to numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers, including reduced risks of various diseases and improved cognitive development. Understanding the impact of breastfeeding on sleep duration is crucial, as sleep issues are common among young children.

Data Highlights

Feeding TypeShort Sleep Prevalence (%)Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Exclusive Formula Feeding12.21.00
Breastfed < 6 months10.20.84 (0.73–0.97)
Mixed Breastmilk/Formula for 6 months9.70.79 (0.69–0.91)
Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 months8.80.77 (0.67–0.89)

Key Findings

  • Short sleep duration was reported in 12% of infants exclusively formula-fed for 6 months.
  • Only 9% of infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months experienced short sleep duration.
  • Breastfeeding for less than 6 months was associated with 16% lower odds of short sleep.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months was associated with 23% lower odds of short sleep compared to exclusive formula feeding.
  • Potential mechanisms for the association include differences in melatonin and tryptophan concentrations.
  • The study's observational nature limits the ability to establish causality.

Clinical Implications

Further research is necessary to explore the relationship between breastfeeding and infant sleep.

Conclusion

The study indicates that breastfeeding during the first 6 months is associated with reduced odds of short sleep duration in infants at 1 year of age. Additional research is warranted to clarify this relationship.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Nakagawa Y., et al., European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2026 -- Breastfeeding and children’s sleep duration at 1 year of age: A nationwide birth cohort - The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
  2. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Breastfeeding practices among foreign-born non-Hispanic mothers of children in the United States – a cross-sectional study of nationwide multi-year data
  3. conexiant — Do Parents Seek Help for Child Sleep Issues?
  4. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — The efficacy and the safety of antenatal breastmilk expression on breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  5. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth — Impact of nurse-focused Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative training program on mothers’ breastfeeding practices at hospital discharge: a quasi-experimental study
  6. Breastfeeding Recommendations and Guidance | Breastfeeding | CDC
  7. Breastfeeding and children’s sleep duration at 1 year of age: A nationwide birth cohort - The Japan Environment and Children’s Study | European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
  8. Synchronicity of Parent-child Sleep and Potential Mechanisms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - ScienceDirect

Original Source(s)

Breastfeeding May Help Infants Achieve Adequate Sleep

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • July 15, 2026

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