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The Mother-Infant Feeding Relationship Across the First Year and the Development of Feeding Difficulties in Low-Risk

Dalia Silberstein1, Ruth Feldman2, Judith M Gardner3

  • 1Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar Ilan University.

Infancy : the Official Journal of the International Society on Infant Studies
|July 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Early mother-infant interaction patterns predict infant feeding difficulties. Relational components throughout the first year are crucial for healthy feeding development in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Nutrition
  • Maternal-Infant Bonding

Background:

  • Feeding problems are common in infancy and linked to relational issues.
  • Limited research has explored the mother-infant feeding relationship as a predictor of feeding difficulties.
  • Understanding early relational dynamics is key to addressing infant feeding challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mother-infant feeding relationship from the neonatal period to one year as an antecedent to feeding difficulties.
  • To identify early relational and neurobehavioral markers associated with later feeding problems.
  • To examine the longitudinal impact of interaction patterns on infant feeding outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 76 premature infants and their mothers from neonatal period to one year.
  • Assessment of maternal touch, gaze, adaptation, and infant neurobehavioral status before hospital discharge.
  • Evaluation of infant psychomotor development at 4 months and feeding difficulties at 1 year via interviews and observations.

Main Results:

  • Mothers of infants with feeding difficulties showed less affectionate touch/gaze and more gaze aversion/lower adaptability neonatally.
  • Infants with feeding difficulties exhibited poorer psychomotor performance at 4 months.
  • Feeding interactions at 1 year showed higher maternal intrusiveness, lower infant involvement, and greater infant withdrawal in those with feeding difficulties.

Conclusions:

  • Early maternal interaction patterns (affectionate touch, adaptation) and infant neurobehavioral status predict later feeding difficulties.
  • Maternal intrusiveness and infant withdrawal during feeding interactions are associated with feeding problems.
  • The mother-infant relationship throughout the first year plays a significant role in the development of infant feeding difficulties.

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