Toward an Integrated Anthropology of Infant Sleep

• DOI: 10.1111/aman.13284
• Publication Date: 2019-07-09T06:03:45Z
• Authors: Helen L. Ball; Cecilia Tomori; James J. McKenna
• Keywords: Infant feeding; Sleep

ABSTRACT This article provides a novel synthesis of anthropological research on infant sleep, focusing work in biological and sociocultural anthropology the past decade. First, we briefly review early into sleep from 1987 to 2007, which provided evidence base for argument that proximate parent–infant combined with lactation represents complex set adaptations constitute human evolutionary norm. challenged Western pediatric paradigm, positioned formula‐ or bottle‐fed solitary sleeping infants as basis universal models about sleep. Next, address how recent has built these foundations extended insights new aspects Biological anthropologists, who continue lead this research, have advanced hormonal behavioral ecology trade‐offs nighttime care conflict. Moreover, they made significant progress translating policy practice clinical health delivery settings. Until recently, primarily addressed part broader endeavors, without an explicit focus We highlight key ethnographic works shed light cultural normalcy interembodied experience shared maternal–infant breastfeeding help de‐center discourses conclude by discussing future agendas forward integrated considers its full context. Integrated approaches not only present path cross‐subfield but could guide more effective equitable maternal‐infant health. [ care, parenting, infancy, ]