DOI: 10.1177/08903344261465241 ISSN: 0890-3344

Infant Temperament and Exclusive Breastfeeding at 6 Months: A Prospective Cohort Study

Elif Bulut, Hacer Kobya Bulut
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Background:

Infant temperament, a core component of Barnard’s Parent–Child Interaction Model, may influence exclusive breastfeeding by shaping mother–infant interactions.

Aim:

To examine the association between infant temperament and exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months.

Methods:

A prospective cohort study was conducted in northern Türkiye (June 2019–January 2020) with 347 mothers of infants aged 0–3 months. Data included sociodemographic, obstetric, and breastfeeding-related information, and infant temperament assessed via the Turkish Infant Behaviour Questionnaire–Very Short Form. T -tests and Pearson correlations identified variables for multiple linear regression, which examined breastfeeding duration, while binary logistic regression assessed exclusive breastfeeding status.

Results:

Infants exclusively breastfed for 6 months had higher positive affect scores ( p  < 0.01). Positive affect was weakly but significantly correlated with breastfeeding duration ( r  = 0.283, p  < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that positive affect and maternal perception of an “easy” temperament explained 9.2% of the variance in breastfeeding duration. Positive affect significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months ( B  = 0.044, p  < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Higher infant positive affect and maternal perception of an “easy” temperament were associated with longer exclusive breastfeeding. Assessing infant temperament and maternal perceptions can help tailor breastfeeding support.

Practice Implications:

Pediatric nurses should assess infant temperament, adapt breastfeeding counseling, and involve fathers and family members to promote breastfeeding sustainability.

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