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The relationships between optimal infant feeding practices and child development and attained height at age 2 years

Lan Mai Tran1,2, Phuong H Nguyen3,4, Melissa F Young1,2

  • 1Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Maternal & Child Nutrition
|March 7, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Early infant feeding practices like early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) significantly impact child growth and cognitive development long-term. These practices are crucial for optimizing children's development as they enter school.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Child Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Limited evidence exists on the long-term effects of early infant feeding practices on child growth and development.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for public health interventions and pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationships between early infant feeding practices and child height and cognitive development at ages 2 and 6-7 years.
  • To investigate the long-term implications of breastfeeding and dietary diversity on child growth and neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 885 mother-child dyads in Vietnam.
  • Assessment of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), breastfeeding duration, and minimum dietary diversity (MDD) using WHO guidelines.
  • Child development evaluated using Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children®-IV; height-for-age z-score (HAZ) calculated.

Main Results:

  • EIBF was associated with improved motor and cognitive development at 2 years, which predicted development at 6-7 years.
  • Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 6 months showed a direct positive association with development at 6-7 years.
  • Minimum dietary diversity at 1 year significantly mediated linear growth (HAZ) at 6-7 years, while breastfeeding duration showed no significant association.

Conclusions:

  • Early infant feeding practices, particularly EIBF and EBF, have significant long-term benefits for optimizing child linear growth and cognitive development.
  • These findings underscore the importance of promoting optimal infant feeding for sustained child development outcomes.
  • Interventions focusing on early and exclusive breastfeeding are vital for long-term child health and cognitive function.

Keywords:
attained heightbreastfeedingchild developmentdietary diversityearly and middle childhood

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