Infant movement opportunities are related to early growth--GECKO Drenthe cohort

Movement by an infant during the first year of life might influence its activity level and thereby influence growth in early childhood.

To examine whether the time that an infant is able to move unrestrictedly and time spent in baby seats are related to weight and waist circumference at age 9 months and growth from 9 to 24 months.

In the GECKO Drenthe birth cohort, weight and height were measured in Well Baby Clinics at the ages of 9 and 24 months. Time spent moving unrestrictedly and time spent in baby seats were reported on a questionnaire at age 9 months. Children born <37 weeks or with a low birthweight (<2500 g) were excluded. Outcomes were defined as the Z-scores for weight-for-height, weight-for-age, and waist circumference-for-age at the ages of 9 and 24 months, and changes in Z-scores as between 9 and 24 months of age.

The time an infant is able to move unrestrictedly at age 9 months was inversely related to Z-score waist circumference at 9 months, and the change in Z-scores weight-for-height and weight-for-age between the ages 9 and 24 months. For time spent in baby seats, 'never users' showed a decline in Z-score weight-for-height as compared to those who used baby seats. On the contrary, Z-score waist circumference-for-age declined in children sitting for 1h or more in baby seats.

More time spent moving unrestrictedly in infancy may contribute to a healthy growth pattern.