Selected Complementary Feeding Practices and Their Association With Maternal Education

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. As infants transition from a milk-based diet to one that includes most food groups, the timing of the transition, how infants are fed, and the quality of their diet can have important health implications. Our objective is to describe these factors for US infants.METHODS. We analyzed data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Sample sizes varied for relevant questions from ϳ1600 to ϳ2400. We analyzed the prevalence of 14 feeding practices and their association with the mothers' education and also examined participants' use of commercial baby foods.RESULTS. Approximately 21% of the mothers introduced solid foods before 4 months; 7% introduced solids after 6 months. Twenty-nine percent of the mothers introduced Ͼ3 new foods per week to infants aged 5 to 10 months. Approximately 20% of the mothers fed juice before 6 months, fed cow's milk before 12 months, and fed infants Ͻ5 times per day after 5 months. Fourteen percent of the mothers chewed food for their infant. Approximately 15% of the mothers fed Ͻ1 serving daily of either a fruit or vegetable to infants aged Ն9 months, half added salt to their infant's food, and more than one third who added salt used noniodized salt. Approximately 20% fed reduced-fat cow's milk at 1 year. Almost half of the 10-month-old infants had eaten restaurant food in a restaurant in the previous week, 22% had eaten carry-out food, and 28% had eaten either type of restaurant food Ն2 times. The prevalence of 8 of the 14 unhealthful infant feeding practices we examined was inversely associated with maternal education.CONCLUSIONS. Nutrition and feeding guidance should be especially targeted to mothers with a high school education or less. Pediatrics 2008;122:S91-S97

Complimentary Feeding Practices in Under-2 Children

“…Two studies from Malaysia and Brazil had shown similar picture [10][11] . In USA, two studies showed that 21% of the mothers introduced solid foods before four months and early introduction of solid foods was common among low-income women [12][13] . 34% mothers started complimentary foods before four months of age in Italy, 16% before three months in Germany and 51% before four months in UK [14][15][16] .…”

“…In USA, many mothers fed commercial baby juice to their babies even before 6 months of age, which was peak at nine months 12 . Another study from USA also showed that lowincome mothers fed excessive juices and sugary drinks to their children 13 .…”

Complementary feeding practices: determinants of dietary diversity and meal frequency among children aged 6–23 months in Southern Benin

“…Five groups of potential explanatory variables were identified from the literature (Fein, Labiner-Wolfe, Scanlon, & Grummer-Strwan, 2008;Upul, Sanjeeva, Hiranya, Indika, & Michael, 2012;Khanal et al, 2013;Melkam, Molla, Zelalem, & Azeb, 2013;Brown et al, 2014;Issaka et al, 2015a, b).…”

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Indonesia: a qualitative and quantitative study

“…In Norway and the USA, only 21% percent of infants were introduced to solid foods before the age of 4 months. 20,21 WHO and UNICEF already recommend the introduction of nutritionallyadequate and safe, complementary (solid) foods at 6 months of age, together with continued breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond. 1 A Netherland study found that maternal high education level was related to a high percentage of starting breastfeeding and duration of breastfeeding.…”