New research in the Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing questions the myth that artificial milk increases sleep duration in infants.  This new study examined the sleeping patterns for mothers and father's after the birth of their first child.  Researchers compared parents who practiced exclusive breastfeeding in the evening and parents who fed their babies breast milk substitutes.  The parents and children studied were all evaluated again at three months postpartum.  The mothers and father's sleep patterns and infant's feeding patterns were evaluated.  Sleep was measured using wrist actigraphy, self report diaries, and a sleep disturbance scale.  
Results of the research indicated that parents of infants who were breastfed in the evening and/or at night slept an average of forty to forty five minutes more and had less sleep disruptions than parents of infants who were given breast milk substitutes.  In conclusion it is important to report that parents are often persuaded to add breast milk substitutes to their child’s diet to aid in longer heavier sleep.  This information is incorrect and harmful to the infant a variety of ways.  According to this research no supplementation need to take place in an exclusively breastfed baby to aid in sleeping.