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Growth of exclusively breastfed infants
Insights
This study found exclusively breastfed infants appear leaner than formula-fed infants based on current growth charts. New charts are needed for exclusively breastfed children to accurately assess growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Growth and Development
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Current infant growth charts are largely based on formula-fed populations.
- Assessing growth in exclusively breastfed infants using these charts may lead to misinterpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth patterns of exclusively breastfed infants from birth to 12 months.
- To highlight the need for updated growth charts specific to exclusively breastfed children.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking weight and length of 120 boys and 81 girls from birth to 12 months.
- Inclusion criteria ensured healthy infants with normal development and exclusive breastfeeding.
- Comparison of growth data with National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) and DAR-LING study standards.
Main Results:
- Exclusively breastfed infants were observed to be leaner compared to current growth standards.
- Despite appearing leaner, infants exhibited normal motor-mental development and thrived well.
- The observed growth pattern did not indicate faltering when considering overall well-being.
Conclusions:
- Existing growth charts may not accurately represent the growth of exclusively breastfed infants.
- There is a critical need to develop new, evidence-based growth charts for exclusively breastfed children.
- Accurate growth assessment is crucial for appropriate infant care and monitoring.
Abstract:
The weights and lengths of 120 boys and 81 girls were followed from birth to 12 months at Shree Maharani Shantadevi Hospital (SMSH), Baroda. The sample was selected by the following criteria: (i) birth weight 2.5 kg or more, (ii) no serious defect or serious/chronic illness, (iii) upper and middle socio-economic level, (iv) normal motor-mental development, (v) regular follow-up every month (by appointment within two days of birth date) for at least nine months, (vi) exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months. Mean and SDs and percentile values of weight, length and weight for length were computed separately for boys and girls. These were compared with those of National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) and of the Davis Area Research on Lactation, Infant Nutrition and Growth (DAR-LING) study in the USA. The breastfed babies were observed to be leaner by the currently accepted "standards" which have been established mostly on formula-fed babies. The growth pattern of the breastfed babies cannot be interpreted as 'faltering' since their motor-mental development was normal and they were thriving well. The study focuses attention on the need to have new growth charts on the basis of exclusively breastfed children.