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The Possible Effects of Breastfeeding on Infant Development at 3 Months: A Case-Control Study

Jinliuxing Yang1, Yue Zhang1, Honghui Li2

  • 1Department of Child Health Care, National Center for Women and Children's Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
|August 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Exclusive breastfeeding is crucial for infant development in communication, problem-solving, and social skills by 3 months. Formula feeding is linked to a higher risk of developmental delays in these areas for infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Infant feeding practices significantly impact early childhood development.
  • Understanding the specific effects of exclusive breastfeeding versus formula feeding is essential for optimizing infant outcomes.
  • Previous research highlights the benefits of breastfeeding, but specific developmental domains require further investigation in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the developmental status of 3-month-old infants.
  • To compare developmental outcomes in communication, problem-solving, and personal-social domains between exclusively breastfed and formula-fed infants.
  • To identify feeding patterns as potential risk factors for developmental delays in early infancy.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 417 mother-infant dyads recruited from maternal and child health hospitals in China.
  • Infant development assessed using the Chinese version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, 3rd edition (ASQ-C).
  • Multivariate logistic regression analysis used to determine the effect of feeding patterns on infant development, controlling for potential confounders.

Main Results:

  • Formula-fed infants showed a higher risk of developmental delay in communication (aOR=2.60), problem-solving (aOR=1.91), and personal-social skills (aOR=1.96) compared to exclusively breastfed infants.
  • The rates of developmental delay in the communication domain were 4.1% for exclusive breastfeeding and 9.3% for formula feeding.
  • Rates of delay in problem-solving and personal-social domains were also higher in the formula-feeding group.

Conclusions:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding is positively associated with better infant development in communication, problem-solving, and personal-social skills at 3 months of age.
  • Formula feeding presents a significant risk factor for developmental delays in these crucial domains during early infancy.
  • Promoting and supporting exclusive breastfeeding practices is vital for enhancing infant developmental trajectories.

Keywords:
3-month-oldbreastfeedingcase–control studydevelopmentinfants

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