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The Influence of Different Caregivers on Infant Growth and Development in China

Qinrui Li1, Furong Liang1, Weilan Liang2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|December 5, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Infant care by babysitters is linked to lower weight and developmental delays. Grandparent care may increase overweight risk in infants. This highlights the significant impact of caregivers on child development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Child Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • China's One-Child Policy has led to modern parents being only children, potentially limiting their experience with sibling interaction.
  • A growing trend in China involves parents utilizing grandparents or babysitters for childcare.
  • Understanding the impact of diverse caregiving arrangements on infant development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of different primary caregivers (parents, grandparents, babysitters) on the physical growth and developmental outcomes of infants in China.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 2,514 infants was studied.
  • Physical assessments included weight-for-age, length-for-age, weight-for-length, and occipital-frontal circumference.
  • Developmental progress was evaluated using the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST).

Main Results:

  • Infants cared for by babysitters showed significantly lower weight and length at 12 months compared to those with parents or grandparents (P < 0.05).
  • The lowest DDST pass rate (75%) was observed in infants cared for by babysitters, particularly in fine motor-adaptive and language domains (P = 0.012).
  • Infants cared for by grandparents were more likely to be overweight or obese than those cared for by parents or babysitters (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Caregiver type significantly influences infant physical growth and cognitive development.
  • Babysitter care was associated with partially suppressed physical growth and cognitive lags in 12-month-old infants.
  • Grandparent care was linked to a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in 12-month-old infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Denver Developmental Screening Testcaregiversgrowth and developmentinfantsobesity

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