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Outputs (17)

Biocultural perspectives on infant sleep (2021)
Book Chapter
Rudzik, A. E., Tomori, C., McKenna, J. J., & Ball, H. L. (2021). Biocultural perspectives on infant sleep. In S. Han, & C. Tomori (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Anthropology and Reproduction. Routledge

The chapter synthesizes research on infant sleep in biological and sociocultural anthropology. We first describe an early phase in which the evidence base was established to support the position that parent–infant sleep proximity and lactation are in... Read More about Biocultural perspectives on infant sleep.

Baby-Lag: Methods for assessing parental tiredness and fatigue (2016)
Book Chapter
Rudzik, A. E., & Ball, H. L. (2016). Baby-Lag: Methods for assessing parental tiredness and fatigue. In L. L. Seivert, & D. E. Brown (Eds.), Biological measures of human experience across the lifespan : making visible the invisible (29-46). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44103-0_3

Altered sleep patterns, inadequate sleep, and fatigue are extremely common among new parents and form a major part of postpartum life. The first months of a new infant’s life are a time of extensive adjustment for families, and the experience of new... Read More about Baby-Lag: Methods for assessing parental tiredness and fatigue.

Early Childhood Pediatric Sleep Concerns for Parents: Co-sleeping (2016)
Book Chapter
Sullivan, S., & Ball, H. (2017). Early Childhood Pediatric Sleep Concerns for Parents: Co-sleeping. In J. Stein (Ed.), Reference module in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-809324-5.00880-4

Of all the sleep-related challenges in infancy and early childhood, none has generated the attention and controversy of co-sleeping. Rates of co-sleeping vary across countries and cultures. While in some studies co-sleeping has been associated with p... Read More about Early Childhood Pediatric Sleep Concerns for Parents: Co-sleeping.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (2016)
Book Chapter
Russell, C. K., Volpe, L. E., & Ball, H. L. (2016). Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In A. Alvergne, C. Jenkinson, & C. Faurie (Eds.), Evolutionary thinking in medicine : from research to policy and practice (61-74). Springer Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29716-3_5

Evolutionary understanding of infant biology emphasises that human newborns have unique needs due to poorly developed neuromuscular capabilities, and physiological vulnerability in the absence of a caregiver. This perspective has been used to critica... Read More about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Night-time on a postnatal ward: experiences of mothers, infants, and staff (2015)
Book Chapter
Taylor, C. E., Tully, K. P., & Ball, H. L. (2015). Night-time on a postnatal ward: experiences of mothers, infants, and staff. In F. C. Dykes, & R. Flacking (Eds.), Ethnographic research in maternal and child health (117-140). Routledge

This chapter illustrates an alternative approach to video ethnography, in which video case studies are described alongside semi-structured interview responses to detail night-time challenges of mothers, newborns, and hospital staff on a postnatal war... Read More about Night-time on a postnatal ward: experiences of mothers, infants, and staff.

Night-time nurturing: an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and sleep (2012)
Book Chapter
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

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, f... Read More about Night-time nurturing: an evolutionary perspective on breastfeeding and sleep.

Breastfeeding and mother-infant sleep proximity: implications for infant care (2007)
Book Chapter
Ball, H., & Klingaman, K. (2007). Breastfeeding and mother-infant sleep proximity: implications for infant care. In W. Trevathan, E. Smith, & J. McKenna (Eds.), Evolutionary medicine and health : new perspectives (226-241). (2nd). Oxford University Press

Research into mother–infant cosleeping with breastfeeding represents a relatively new area for behavioral and physiological investigation inspired by evolutionary thinking. This topic within the evolutionary medicine rubric might well be the furthest... Read More about Breastfeeding and mother-infant sleep proximity: implications for infant care.

Babies and Infants Bed-Sharing. (2000)
Book Chapter
Ball, H. (2000). Babies and Infants Bed-Sharing. In R. C. O. Midwives (Ed.), Midwifery Practice in the Post-natal Period (24-26). Royal College of Midwifes