[Sleep patterns of infants and young children and their association with breastfeeding: a study based on K-means clustering]

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2022 Oct 15;24(10):1154-1160. doi: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2205027.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract
in English, Chinese

Objectives: To investigate the sleep patterns and characteristics of infants and young children and the association between sleep patterns and breastfeeding.

Methods: A general information questionnaire, Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ), and a questionnaire on feeding were used to investigate the sleep quality and feeding patterns of 1 148 infants and young children aged 7-35 months. The K-means clustering method was used to identify sleep patterns and characteristics. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between sleep patterns and breastfeeding.

Results: Three typical sleep patterns were identified for the 1 148 infants and young children aged 7-35 months: early bedtime and long sleep time; short sleep latency and moderate sleep time; late bedtime, prolonged sleep latency, and insufficient sleep time. The third pattern showed sleep disorders. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with formula feeding, exclusive breastfeeding within 6 months after birth reduced the risk of sleep disorder patterns by 69% (OR=0.31, 95%CI: 0.11-0.81). The risk of sleep disorder patterns was reduced by 40% (OR=0.60, 95%CI: 0.38-0.96) in the infants receiving breastfeeding for 4-6 months compared with those receiving breastfeeding for 1-3 months.

Conclusions: There are different sleep patterns in infants and young children, and breastfeeding can reduce the development of sleep disorder patterns.

目的: 识别婴幼儿睡眠的典型模式及特征，并探讨睡眠模式与生后6个月内母乳喂养的关系。方法: 通过一般情况问卷、简明婴儿睡眠问卷（Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire，BISQ）及喂养情况问卷，调查1 148名7~35月龄婴幼儿的睡眠情况和喂养方式。采用K-means聚类分析其睡眠模式及特征，并通过多因素logistic回归分析探讨婴幼儿睡眠模式与母乳喂养之间的关联。结果: 1 148名7~35月龄婴幼儿的睡眠模式可分为典型的3类：第1类为就寝时间早、睡眠时间长；第2类为入睡潜伏期短、睡眠时间中等；第3类为就寝时间晚、入睡潜伏期延长、睡眠时间不足。其中只有第3类为睡眠障碍模式。多因素logistic回归分析发现，与人工喂养的婴幼儿相比，生后6个月内的纯母乳喂养可降低69%睡眠障碍模式的发生风险（OR=0.31，95%CI：0.11~0.81，P<0.05）；母乳喂养时间达4~6个月者，相较于1~3个月者，可降低40%睡眠障碍模式的发生风险（OR=0.60，95%CI：0.38~0.96，P<0.05）。结论: 婴幼儿表现出不同的睡眠模式，母乳喂养可一定程度降低婴幼儿睡眠障碍模式的发生。.

Keywords: Breastfeeding; Infant and young child; K-means clustering; Sleep.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Wake Disorders*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires