Night-time nurturing: an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and sleep

Ball, H.L.; Russell, C.K.

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199755059.003.0014

Night-time nurturing: an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and sleep

Ball, H.L.; Russell, C.K.

Authors

Professor Helen Ball h.l.ball@durham.ac.uk
Professor

C.K. Russell

Contributors

D. Narváez
Editor

J. Panksepp
Editor

A. Schore
Editor

T. Gleason
Editor

Abstract

Consideration of the phylogenetic depth and cross-cultural breadth of mother–infant biology and behavior illuminates contemporary infant care. Three key “ancestral environments” (AEs) have defined the care requirements of newborn humans (lactation, frequent suckling, and maternal close contact). These evolved requirements have been challenged by various “new cultural environments” (NCEs) propelling infant care in directions that are incongruent with evolved maternal and infant biology (e.g., postpartum separation of mothers and infants, widespread acceptance of nonhuman milk feeding). As a consequence, over the past century, infant feeding and sleeping have become decoupled from the mother's body—with far-reaching ramifications.

Citation

Ball, H., & Russell, C. (2012). Night-time nurturing: an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and sleep. In D. Narváez, J. Panksepp, A. Schore, & T. Gleason (Eds.), Evolution, early experience and human development : from research to practice and policy (241-261). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199755059.003.0014

Online Publication Date	Nov 6, 2012
Publication Date	Nov 6, 2012
Deposit Date	Sep 23, 2011
Publicly Available Date	Mar 24, 2017
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Pages	241-261
Book Title	Evolution, early experience and human development : from research to practice and policy.
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199755059.003.0014

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Copyright Statement
This is a draft of a chapter that was accepted for publication by Oxford University Press in the book 'Evolution, Early Experience and Human Development: From Research to Practice and Policy' edited by Darcia Narváez, Jaak Panksepp, Allan N. Schore, and Tracy R. Gleason and published in 2012.