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Are fussier babies fed non‐milk liquids and solids earlier than less fussy babies? Results from the Infant Care, Feeding, and Risk of Obesity Study.
Author(s) -
Bentley Margaret E.,
Borja Judith B.,
Goldman Barbara D.,
Adair Linda S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a188-a
Subject(s) - medicine , temperament , overweight , infant feeding , pediatrics , infant formula , logistic regression , confounding , odds ratio , demography , environmental health , obesity , breastfeeding , psychology , personality , endocrinology , social psychology , sociology
Studies have shown how feeding can be used as a strategy to calm or pacify infants. Fussiness among infants was associated with increased carbohydrate but not fat intake suggesting that foods with high sugar content may be given to pacify infants. This paper examines the relationship between mother’s perception of infant temperament and feeding behavior at 3 months among low income African Americans (n=132). The Rothbart Infant Behavior Questionnaire was used to measure different temperament dimensions. Logistic analysis indicated that fussier infants were twice more likely to be fed solids and non‐milk liquids at 3 months (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.04 [95% CI: 1.017, 4.084]). Similarly, fussier infants were also about twice as likely to be given cereal in the bottle within the first 3 months, even when controlling for possible confounders such as problems with reflux (OR 1.89 [95% CI: 1.003, 3.527]). These feeding behaviors are inconsistent with current feeding recommendations and may be associated with poor self‐regulation of diet and risk of infant overweight. In this sample of 3 month old infants, a significant positive association was found between feeding cereal in the bottle and infant overweight. Early introduction of foods, particularly the practice of adding cereal in the bottle to thicken the milk, is a cultural norm associated with African American mothers and grandmothers. These findings indicate that maternal perception of infant fussiness may motivate an inappropriate feeding practice. Funding source: National Institutes of Health/NICHD