Use of baby carriers to increase breastfeeding duration among term infants: the effects of an educational intervention in Italy.

Aim:   To investigate whether the use of baby carriers by term infants during the first month of life is associated with increased rates of breastfeeding.

Methods:   Prospective cohort study. Two hundred mothers with healthy term infants were assigned to receive either a baby carrier and some accurate information and training about the use thereof or only information about breastfeeding. Study groups were followed by phone interviews.

Results:   Of the 100 mothers to whom baby carriers were provided, 69 utilized it for at least 1 h per day during the first month of life, while 31 did not use it at all. While breastfeeding rates were similar in both intervention and control groups at discharge from the maternity ward, mothers in the intervention group scored significantly higher with their infants at two (72% vs 51%) and at 5 months of age (48% vs 24%), respectively. The intervention group infants were breastfed significantly more frequently than those of the control group.

Conclusions:   Our finding seems to suggest that the use of baby carriers in healthy term infants during their first month is associated with increased breastfeeding duration.