Associations between breastfeeding duration and adherence to complementary feeding recommendations in Scotland

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nutrition
• Maternal and Infant Health
• Dietary Practices

Background:

• Complementary feeding (CF) practices significantly impact infant health and development.
• Understanding the relationship between breastfeeding duration and CF adherence is crucial for public health guidelines.
• Sociodemographic factors may influence both breastfeeding and CF behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration and adherence to complementary feeding recommendations.
• To examine the impact of breastfeeding on diet diversification and feeding skills in infants.
• To determine if sociodemographic factors mediate the observed differences.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Scottish Maternal Infant and Nutrition Survey (n=2730) for infants aged 8-12 months.
• Collected information on breastfeeding history, CF practices, diet, and sociodemographics via questionnaires.
• Defined non-healthful CF practices including early CF initiation, sugar-sweetened beverages, treats, and commercial baby foods.

Main Results:

• Mothers breastfeeding ≥6 months were more likely to initiate CF ≥6 months (66% vs. 37%) and less likely to offer unhealthy foods (e.g., treats 15% vs. 45%) compared to infant formula fed (IFF) infants.
• These associations remained significant (p<0.001) after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.
• Infants breastfed ≥6 months exhibited similar diet diversity and meal frequency, with a higher likelihood of self-feeding finger foods (87% vs. 81%).

Conclusions:

• Prolonged breastfeeding (≥6 months) is positively associated with adherence to recommended complementary feeding practices.
• Breastfeeding duration does not negatively impact diet diversification or feeding skill development in infants.
• Findings support continued breastfeeding beyond six months for improved infant nutrition and feeding outcomes.