Developmental Readiness for Complementary Feeding: Associations with Initiation Before Age 6 Months.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infant Nutrition
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Early introduction of complementary foods before six months is a concern for infant health.
• Parental perceptions of infant developmental readiness may influence feeding timing.
• Racial and ethnic disparities exist in the introduction of complementary foods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if parents' assessment of infant development predicts earlier introduction of complementary foods.
• To determine if infant developmental readiness explains racial and ethnic differences in complementary feeding initiation.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 5475 infants in New York assessed nine developmental markers and complementary feeding timing.
• Mixed-effects models were used to analyze associations between developmental markers and early feeding.
• Direct and indirect effects of race/ethnicity on feeding via a total development score were calculated.

Main Results:

• Infant sitting, head control, reaching, mouthing, and good appetite were significantly associated with introducing complementary foods before six months.
• A higher total infant development score correlated with increased odds of early complementary feeding.
• The development score partially explained racial and ethnic disparities in complementary feeding timing.

Conclusions:

• Parents appear to use infant developmental cues to guide the timing of complementary feeding.
• Perceived developmental readiness may account for some observed racial and ethnic differences in early feeding.
• Future research should include infant developmental readiness assessments in studies on complementary feeding.