Bottle-Feeding Practices During Early Infancy and Eating Behaviors at 6 Years of Age

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests an association of breastfeeding with a maternal feeding style (MFS) that is less controlling than formula feeding, which, in turn, may improve a child' s self-regulation of eating. This study examines associations of bottle-feeding practices during infancy with MFS and children' s eating behavior (CEB) at 6 years old. METHODS:We linked data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II to the Year 6 Follow-Up, which include 8 MFS and CEB measures adapted from previous validated instruments. Bottle-feeding practices during the first 6 months estimated by using the Infant Feeding Practices Study II were bottle-feeding intensity (BFI), mother' s encouragement of infant to finish milk in the bottle, and infant finishing all milk in the bottle. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for associations of bottle-feeding practices with MFS and CEB at 6 years old were calculated by using multivariable logistic regressions controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and other feeding practices (N = 1117).RESULTS: Frequent bottle emptying encouraged by mothers during infancy increased odds of mothers encouraging their child to eat all the food on their plate (aOR: 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.65-3.41] and making sure their child eats enough (aOR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.14-2.31) and of children eating all the food on their plate at 6 years old (aOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.05-3.83). High BFI during early infancy also increased the odds of mothers being especially careful to ensure their 6-yearold eats enough.CONCLUSIONS: Bottle-feeding practices during infancy may have longterm effects on MFS and CEB. Frequent bottle emptying encouraged by mothers and/or high BFI during early infancy increased the likelihood of mothers pressuring their 6-year-old child to eat and children' s low satiety responsiveness. Pediatrics 2014;134:S70-S77

Complementary Feeding Strategies to Facilitate Acceptance of Fruits and Vegetables: A Narrative Review of the Literature

“…Contrary to bottle feeding, breastfeeding does not make it possible for mothers to see and control the ingested amount of milk [41]. Consequently, it was hypothesized that bottle feeding could be one of the early feeding practices likely to alter innate food intake control abilities [42,43,44,45]. Specifically, bottle feeding may influence these abilities in the short term [43] and at the age of six years [44].…”

Qualitative exploration of bottle feeding practices among mothers of Dharwad district, Karnataka: a focus group discussion study

“…Frequent bottle emptying encouraged by mothers and/or high Bottle Feeding Intensity during early infancy increased the likelihood of mothers pressuring their 6-year-old child to eat and children's low satiety responsiveness. 7 The tendency to use the bottle increased in relation to child's increasing age. Only 17% of the infants under the age of 3 months were offered bottle, it was 69% between 4 to 6 months and it increased to 76% in infants from 7 months to 1 year.…”

Looking for cues – infant communication of hunger and satiation during milk feeding

“…2012;Li et al,2014), then unresponsive feeding at any one of these three stages could result in under-or over-feeding, and hence in the long term, underweight or overweight infants.…”