Parental feeding control in relation to feeding mode and growth pattern during early infancy
Niklas Timby1, Olle Hernell, Bo Lönnerdal
1Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Insights
Formula-fed infants demonstrate strong energy self-regulation with minimal parental feeding control. Parental feeding practices were primarily influenced by infant growth, not feeding method.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Infant Growth and Development
- Parenting and Child Development
Background:
- Accelerated growth in formula-fed infants is hypothesized to stem from parental feeding control and disrupted infant energy self-regulation.
- This study investigates parental feeding control in formula-fed infants exhibiting high self-regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore factors associated with parental feeding control in formula-fed infants with high energy self-regulation.
- To compare parental feeding control between formula-fed and breast-fed infants.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial included 141 formula-fed and 72 breast-fed infants followed from <2 to 12 months.
- Anthropometry was measured at baseline, 4, 6, and 12 months.
- Parental feeding control was assessed using the Child Feeding Questionnaire at 4 and 12 months.
Main Results:
- Formula-fed infants regulated intake volume to compensate for varying energy and protein densities.
- Parents of formula-fed infants reported lower pressure-to-eat scores at 12 months compared to breast-fed infants.
- High parental restriction at 12 months correlated with infant weight, and high pressure-to-eat correlated with BMI, independent of feeding mode.
Conclusions:
- Formula-fed infants exhibit robust energy self-regulation and experience less parental feeding control.
- Parental feeding control is predominantly influenced by infant growth trajectories.
Aim:
A high level of parental control of feeding and disturbed energy self-regulation has previously been suggested as a mechanism for the accelerated growth observed in formula-fed compared with breast-fed infants. This study explored factors associated with parental control of feeding in a population of formula-fed infants with high levels of self-regulation.
Methods:
We included 141 formula-fed and 72 breast-fed infants from a randomised controlled trial, who were prospectively followed from under 2 months of age to 12 months of age. Anthropometry was recorded at baseline, 4, 6 and 12 months of age. Parental feeding control was assessed using a Child Feeding Questionnaire at 4 and 12 months.
Results:
The formula-fed groups fully compensated for different energy and protein densities by regulating their volume intakes. Parents of formula-fed infants had a lower pressure to eat score at 12 months than parents of breast-fed infants. A high parental restrictive score at 12 months was associated with weight at 12 months and high parental pressure to eat score at 12 months with body mass index at 12 months. Neither were associated with feeding mode.
Conclusion:
Formula-fed infants had a high level of energy self-regulation and were subjected to low parental control. Parental control of feeding was mainly influenced by infant growth.
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