The association between use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, and maternal depression, self-efficacy, and parenting confidence

Abstract

The transition to motherhood can be challenging. The baby book market has taken advantage of this, publishing a range of books that suggest adopting strict routines for infant sleep, feeding and general care. Despite their multi million sales, their impact has not been established. The aim of this study was to explore maternal experience of using these books, and the association with maternal wellbeing. Three hundred and fifty four mothers with an infant aged 0-12 months reported use of infant parenting books that promote strict routines, experience of using them, and measures of postnatal depression, maternal self efficacy and parenting stress. Use of the books was associated with increased depressive symptoms and stress, alongside lower self-efficacy, although experience of using the books predicted this. Although those who found the books useful had greater wellbeing, the majority did not find them useful, which was associated with lower wellbeing.

The association between baby care books that promote strict care routines and infant feeding, night‐time care, and maternal–infant interactions

“…Almost half of mothers stated that the books encouraged them to put their infant in a sleep routine, a quarter to follow a feeding routine, and not respond immediately to infant cries, and around 15% felt they promoted not always picking up or cuddling an infant when the infant cued for this to happen. These findings fit with previous research that explored how useful mothers found books that promoted strict routines, which highlighted that around 20-25% of mothers followed the information in such books finding it useful and effective (Harries & Brown, 2017).…”

“…Parenting books may therefore provide a seeming solution for new mothers—providing both information, an “expert” reassuring voice, and emotional support that mothers are doing things the “right way.” However, although they do reassure some, many others who read them feel they have no impact and end up feeling increasingly confused, anxious, and as if they have failed, lowering their parenting self‐efficacy and increasing their risk of postnatal depression (Harries & Brown, ). Likewise, attempting to instigate approaches that claim to solve infant sleep and crying issues can lead to increased maternal dissatisfaction and anxiety if they do not work (Blunden et al, ).…”

The Possums Infant Sleep Program: parents' perspectives on a novel parent-infant sleep intervention in Australia

“…Closed questions were quantified, while freetext responses were analysed using thematic analysis, a standard approach which includes grouping and regrouping participant statements into nested themes based on the use of particular words and phrases. 25 All thematic coding was conducted by the first author/evaluator and then discussed with a colleague (who played no other role in the study) who provided objective feedback on the groupings and whether these could be further collapsed or separated. Illustrative quotes for each theme were extracted to demonstrate the opinions of parents regarding the program and the broader context of parental support around sleep in early infancy.…”

“…21,22 However, this anticipatory guidance results in anxiety, stress and self-doubt even amongst parents who have not previously perceived a problem with their infant's sleep. [23][24][25] We and others suggest that the dominance of the FWB lens influences the questions posed and the interpretation of data in infant sleep research. 9-13, 20, 26-28 Cued care is a pattern of intentional and sensible responding to a baby's cues such as is practiced in responsive feeding.…”

“…Many parents struggle to cope with their infant's night waking. Up to 38% of Australian parents report sleep problems at four weeks post-birth; 1 25-33% of parents seek the guidance of clinicians regarding their babies' sleep, and many more seek help from books, websites and social media. 2,3 There is an association between the perception of infant sleep problems, parental depression and parental insomnia, although the direction of causality is unclear.…”