Abstract 714 Poster Session IV, Tuesday, 5/4 (poster 14)

Breastfeeding is accepted as the best source of nutrition for infants. Breastfeeding for 4 months or longer has been associated with less otitis media, less recurrent otitis media, and increased developmental test scores in term infants. Many breastfeeding advocates are concerned that early pacifier use may be associated with a shortening of the duration of breastfeeding. Others believe that pacifiers can be used to calm a fussy baby and have no effect on breastfeeding. A prospective cohort of healthy term infants was followed up to 4 months of age. A standardized questionnaire was given in person at hospital discharge, and by telephone at 2-6 weeks and 3-5 months of age. Primary variables were pacifier use, bottle use, and breastfeeding status at 3 months of age. 141 of 194 term infants who were breastfeeding on study recruitment days were enrolled. 111 completed all interviews. Variables included maternal age (mat age), birthweight(BW), gestational age, race, use of pacifier(pac) in the hospital and within the first 2 weeks, and use of a bottle(bot) in the hospital and within the first 2 weeks. Outcome was breastfeeding status at 3 months of age(+BF - still breastfeeding, -BF - stopped breastfeeding). Race or infant gestational age was not related to breastfeeding outcome. Results are listed in the table.

Table 1 No caption available
Full size table

Pacifier use in the hospital or in the first 2 weeks of life had no significant effect on continued breastfeeding at 3 months of age. Use of a bottle in the first 2 weeks of life was significantly associated with stopping breastfeeding before 3 months of age. Use of a bottle in the first 2 weeks of life should be discouraged for mothers wanting to breastfeed, but pacifiers can be permitted.