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PubMed2005

Supplementation of infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids does not influence the growth of term infants.

BACKGROUND: Adequate growth is an important indicator of health and well-being in infants. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the effect of supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on the growth of term infants. DESIGN: Using the methodology outlined by the Cochrane Collaboration, we reviewed all known randomized controlled trials that involved LCPUFA supplementation of infant formula fed to term infants. Outcome measures were weight, length, and head circumference. Original data obtained from the investigators of published trials were used. Outcomes were analyzed with fixed-effects or random-effects model meta-analyses and were reported as weighted mean differences with 95% CIs. RESULTS: We identified 14 eligible trials that had data available for meta-analysis (1846 infants). Trial quality was generally high. Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of LCPUFA supplementation on infant weight, length, or head circumference at any assessment age. Similarly, subgroup analyses showed that supplementation with only n-3 LCPUFAs (no arachidonic acid) had no significant effect on infant weight, length, or head circumference. The source of LCPUFA supplementation (phospholipid or triacylglycerol) also did not significantly affect infant growth. CONCLUSION: We found no evidence that LCPUFA supplementation of infant formula influences the growth of term infants in either a positive or a negative way.

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated↗

PubMed1995

Effect of a fermented infant formula containing viable bifidobacteria on the fecal flora composition and pH of healthy full-term infants.

We assessed the growth, tolerance, and acceptability as well as fecal flora composition and stool pH of 20 healthy full-term infants fed with a fermented whey-adapted infant formula containing viable bifidobacteria (10(6)/g of powder) during the first 2 months of life. This fermented infant formula, first biologically acidified by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus, was compared to a whey-adapted, nonacidified, low-phosphate infant formula in a double-blind, randomized controlled study. The results were compared to a control group (n = 14) of fully breast-fed infants. The fermented whey-adapted formula containing viable bifidobacteria induced a prevalence of colonization with bifidobacteria at 1 month of age similar to that of breast-fed infants (12/20 versus 8/14) but significantly higher than in the group fed the standard infant formula (4/20). The mean bacterial count of bifidobacteria was similar in all colonized infants; however, fecal pH was significantly lower in the breast-fed infants than in the nonacidified bottle-fed infants. This kind of infant formula was well tolerated and promoted a normal growth during the first 2 months.

Bifidobacterium↗

PubMed2003

A comparison of respiratory symptoms and inflammation in sudden infant death syndrome and in accidental or inflicted infant death.

Upper respiratory infection and pulmonary inflammation are common in sudden infant death syndrome, but their role in the cause of death remains controversial. Controlled studies comparing clinical upper respiratory infection and inflammation in sudden infant death syndrome with sudden infant deaths caused by accidents and inflicted injuries (controls) are unavailable. Our aim was to compare respiratory inflammation and upper respiratory infection within 48 hours of death and postmortem culture results in these two groups. A retrospective analysis of upper respiratory infection and pathologic variables in the trachea and lung of 155 infants dying of sudden infant death syndrome and 33 control infants was undertaken. Upper respiratory infection was present in 39% of sudden infant death syndrome cases and 40% of control cases. Upper respiratory infection was more likely to have occurred in association with more severe lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis when sudden infant death syndrome cases and control cases were combined ( P=.04). Proximal and distal tracheal lymphocytic infiltration was more severe in control cases than in sudden infant death syndrome cases ( P=.01 and.01, respectively). Lymphocytic infiltrations of the bronchi, bronchioles, and pulmonary interstitium were similar between groups. Bronchial associated lymphoid tissue was more prominent in control cases ( P=.04). Cultures were positive in 80% of sudden infant death syndrome cases, 78% of which were polymicrobial. Among control cases, 89% were positive, with 94% being polymicrobial. This study confirms that microscopic inflammatory infiltrates in sudden infant death syndrome are not lethal.

Accidents↗

PubMed2006

Faecal SIgA secretion in infants fed on pre- or probiotic infant formula.

Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) plays an important role in the defence of the gastrointestinal tract. The level of faecal SIgA antibody is associated with increased neutralization and clearance of viruses. Formula-fed infants who lack the transfer of protective maternal SIgA from breast milk may benefit from strategies to support maturation of humoral immunity and endogenous production of SIgA. We aimed at studying the effects of standard, prebiotic and probiotic infant formulas on the faecal SIgA levels. At birth, infants of whom the mother had decided not to breastfeed were allocated to one of three formula groups in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Nineteen infants received standard infant formula; 19 received prebiotic formula containing a specific mixture of 0.6 g galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)/fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS)/100 ml formula and 19 received probiotic formula containing 6.0 x 10(9) cfu Bifidobacterium animalis/100 ml formula. Faecal samples were taken on postnatal day 5, day 10, wk 4 and every 4 wk thereafter until wk 32. SIgA in faeces was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. During the intervention, infants fed on prebiotic formula showed a trend towards higher faecal SIgA levels compared with the standard formula-fed infants reaching statistical significance at the age of 16 wk. In contrast, infants fed on the probiotic formula showed a highly variable faecal SIgA concentration with no statistically significant differences compared with the standard formula group. Formula-fed infants may benefit from infant formulas containing a prebiotic mixture of GOS and FOS because of the observed clear tendency to increase faecal SIgA secretion. Adding viable B. animalis strain Bb-12 to infant formula did not reveal any sign for such a trend.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed2005

Randomized, double-blind comparison of growth in infants receiving goat milk formula versus cow milk infant formula.

OBJECTIVE: To compare growth of infants fed goat milk infant formula (GMF) or cow milk infant formula (CMF) and to compare tolerability and safety of the two formulas. METHODS: The study was conducted in Auckland, New Zealand. This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Newborn term infants were randomized within 72 h of birth to GMF or CMF. Milk formula powder in single serve sachets were reconstituted and fed to infants from trial commencement until age 168 days. No other formula given from randomization until age 168 days. Infant weight, length and head circumference were measured at birth and age 14, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140 and 168 days. Bowel motion frequency and consistency, sleeping and crying patterns and adverse events were also measured. RESULTS: Seventy-two infants were randomized, 36 each to GMF or CMF, with 62 infants completing the intervention. At enrollment the average weight of infants in the GMF group (mean +/- SD) was 3.33 +/- 0.43 kg and in the CMF group 3.43 +/- 0.47 kg; and at study completion 8.07 +/- 0.90 kg (GMF) and 7.87 +/- 0.99 kg (CMF). The difference in average weight gain over the study period for the GMF group versus the CMF group was not significant (+309 g; 95% CI = -49 to +668, P = 0.09). Median daily bowel motion frequency was greater in the GMF group than the CMF group (2.4 vs 1.7, P = 0.01). There were no group differences in bowel motion consistency, duration of crying, ease of settling, or frequency of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Growth of infants fed GMF is not different to that of infants-fed CMF.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Multiple causes of asphyxia in infants at high risk for sudden infant death.

A wide range of clinical findings was present in 58 near-miss sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) infants and 6 surviving twins of SIDS siblings. Specific investigations included: studies of gastro-oesophageal reflux and aspiration (24-hour oesophageal pH recordings, barium swallow, radionuclide 'milk-scan'); polygraphic studies of breathing, reflux, and sleep state; studies of upper airways disease (lateral airways radiography and endoscopy); detection of seizure activity by electroencephalography; evaluation of thiamine status by erythrocyte transketolase activity of venous blood. Thiamine deficiency was found in 12 of 43 tested infants; 5 of the deficient infants had a familial history of SIDS. Many potential mechanisms for asphyxia were found: idiopathic central apnoea (7 infants), tracheal obstruction from minimal tracheomalacia or aberrant innominate artery (4 infants), temporal lobe or generalised seizures (6 infants), gastro-oesophageal reflux (55 infants) with intrapulmonary aspiration (11 infants). The high incidence, severity, and timing of reflux were new findings. Reflux occurred in active and indeterminate sleep, but not in quiet sleep. The depression of respiratory reflexes by active sleep stresses the vulnerability to asphyxia. Two factors suggest that near-miss episodes are related to SIDS: the similar age distribution but earlier occurrence of near-miss episodes compared with age at death of SIDS infants, and the subsequent sudden death of 2 infants whose necropsies were consistent with SIDS.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Are the stool characteristics of preterm infants affected by infant formulas?

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the type of formula consumed and the stool characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms of preterm infants prospectively. Seventy-five preterm infants weighing < 2000 g in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were investigated. Four groups of 15 each were fed one of four commercial formula preparations (Prematil, Neonatal, Humana-0 and S-26) and the fifth group was breast-fed in a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. The stool characteristics and gastrointestinal problems were recorded daily from the first day till the time they were discharged by the nurses of NICU. No significant differences of daily weight gain was observed between the groups. No significant difference was observed in daily frequency of stool, distention, vomiting and gas passage between the groups during the enteral + parenteral and full-enteral nutrition periods. The infants fed by Prematil during the enteral + parenteral nutrition period had a higher percentage of hard stool occurrence than infants receiving Humana-0 and breast milk. In the full-enteral nutrition period, infants receiving Prematil had a higher percentage of hard stool occurrence than all the other groups, whereas breast-fed infants had a lower percentage of hard stool than all the other groups. While the group fed with Humana-0 had a higher percentage of green stool occurrence in the enteral + parenteral nutrition period, no significant difference was observed in the full-enteral nutrition period. In the enteral + parenteral nutrition period no additional therapy affected stool characteristics or the gastrointestinal system except in the case of the infant receiving phototherapy for whom the daily number of detections was significantly high. In this study, it was shown that the color and consistency of stool in preterm infant differs according to the preterm infant formulas, but no differences were observed in the frequency of defecation or in gastrointestinal system problems. When the infant formulas were compared with breast milk, it was shown that they cause a higher percentage of hard stool occurrence. An increased number of formula feedings are necessary to obtain a similar daily weight gain, but the color and the frequency of the stool and the gastrointestinal system problems were similar for breast-fed and formula-fed infants.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of prone sleeping position and selected infant care practices of North Dakota infants: a comparison of whites and Native Americans.

A cross-sectional prevalence study was done in four primary care clinics (two rural and two urban sites) and four Native American clinics serving members of the Chippewa, Sioux, Hidasta, Arikara, and Mandan tribes, all in North Dakota, to determine the prevalence of prone, supine, and side sleeping position in white and Native American infants. Questionnaires for 325 infants (259 whites and 66 Native Americans) between birth and 6 months of age were completed by the infants' mothers. They reported that 69 percent of the infants slept prone, 17 percent slept supine, and 14 percent slept on their side. Native American infants, who are at 3.2 times the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome compared with other North Dakota infants, slept prone 46.9 percent of the time compared with 74.4 percent of white infants (chi 2 = 23.61; 1 df; P < .0001). No differences were observed in the prevalence of the side sleeping position. Eighteen percent of the infants slept in the position reported due to advice from a physician or nurse, 8 percent of the infants slept with more than two blankets, and 5 percent slept with a pillow. Native American infants in North Dakota did not have a higher prevalence of exposure to prone sleeping position.

Bedding and Linens↗

PubMed2005

Palatal development of preterm and low birthweight infants compared to term infants -- What do we know? Part 3: discussion and conclusion.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that prematurity and adjunctive neonatal care is 'a priori' a risk for disturbances of palatal and orofacial development which increases the need for later orthodontic or orthognathic treatment. As results on late consequences of prematurity are consistently contradictory, the necessity exists for a fundamental analysis of existing methodologies, confounding factors, and outcomes of studies on palatal development in preterm and low birthweight infants. METHOD: A search of the literature was conducted based on Cochrane search strategies including sources in English, German, and French. Original data were recalculated from studies which primarily dealt with both preterm and term infants. The extracted data, especially those from non-English paper sources, were provided unfiltered in tables for comparison (Parts 1 and 2). RESULTS: Morphology assessment of the infant palate is subject to non-standardized visual and metrical measurements. Most methodologies are inadequate for measuring a three-dimensional shape. Several confounding factors were identified as causes contributing to disturbances of palatal and orofacial development. CONCLUSION: Taking into account the abovementioned shortcomings, the following conclusions may be drawn for practitioners and prospective investigators of clinical studies. 1) The lack of uniformity in the anatomical nomenclature of the infant's palate underlines the need for a uniform definition. 2) Metrically, non-intubated preterm infants do not exhibit different palatal width or height compared to matched term infants up to the corrected age of three months. Beyond that age, no data on the subject are currently available. 3) Oral intubation does not invariably alter palatal morphology of preterm and low birthweight infants. 4) The findings on palatal grooving, height, and asymmetry as a consequence of orotracheal intubation up to the age of 11 years are inconsistent. 5) Metrically, the palates of orally intubated infants remain narrower posteriorly, beginning at the second deciduous molar, until the age of 11 years. Beyond that age, no data on the subject are currently available. 6) There is a definite need for further, especially metrical, longitudinal and controlled trials on palatal morphology of preterm and low birthweight infants with reliable measuring techniques. 7) None of the raised confounding factors for developmental disturbances may be excluded until evident results are presented. Thus, early orthodontic and logopedic control of formerly premature infants is recommended up to the late mixed dentition stage.

Humans↗

PubMed1998

Maternal and infant complications in high and normal weight infants by method of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the population risks of maternal and infant complications with the birth of macrosomic (at least 4000 g) compared with normal weight infants. METHODS: Term, singleton infants were identified from the state of Washington's birth event records database for 1990. Diagnosis codes from the Internal Classification of Diseases (9th revision) were used to identify delivery method and previously defined complications. We adjusted for maternal demographic and clinical factors using multivariable logistic regression to derive the risk of each maternal and infant complication. RESULTS: The incidence of macrosomia was 13% (8815 of 66,086). Vaginal birth of macrosomic infants was associated with low incidence of complications except for shoulder dystocia (11%) and postpartum hemorrhage (5%). Postpartum infection was the most common complication for women who had cesarean delivery after labor (5%), and complications for women who had cesarean without labor were rare (less than 3%). Neonatal complications were rare. Among infants with shoulder dystocia, the risks of asphyxia (adjusted relative risk [RR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6, 2.3), birth trauma (RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.2, 1.6), long-bone injury (RR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6, 2.4), seizures (RR 1.0, 95% CI 0.0, 25.0), and facial palsy (RR 2.2, 95% CI 0.2, 44.4) were not significantly different for macrosomic and normal weight infants; however, macrosomic infants had a significantly increased risk of Erb palsy (RR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8, 7.5). CONCLUSION: This population-based study showed that most macrosomic infants are delivered vaginally with low rates of maternal and neonatal complications. Macrosomic infants have higher rates of Erb palsy, but similar rates of other serious complications of shoulder dystocia when compared with normal weight infants.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Autonomic dysfunction at different ambient temperatures in infants at risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

Autonomic function was assessed by measuring the heart rate and blood pressure responses to a change from the horizontal to upright posture at various ambient temperatures in four groups of infants aged 8-12 weeks: 30 infants who had suffered a well-defined unexplained apparent life-threatening event (ALTE); 8 infants who had suffered a cyanotic attack; 24 healthy infants with a sibling who had died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); and 17 healthy infants. Autonomic dysfunction was uncommon in the control group; no infant showed an abnormal heart rate response to postural change (R to R interval maximum/minimum ratio less than 1.0) and a postural fall in blood pressure of greater than 10% occurred in only 1 infant. In contrast, in the ALTE group 9 of 26, 9 of 30, and 4 of 22 infants showed an abnormal heart rate response and 20 of 26, 14 of 30, and 10 of 22 a greater than 10% fall in blood pressure on postural change at 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 30 degrees C, respectively. 1 ALTE infant died of SIDS 14 h after showing an RR max/min ratio of 0.8 and a postural fall in blood pressure of 11% and 14% at 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. Autonomic function testing should become part of the clinical evaluation of infants at high risk of a sudden unexpected death.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗

PubMed1997

Exposure of infants to phyto-oestrogens from soy-based infant formula.

BACKGROUND: The isoflavones genistein, daidzein, and their glycosides, found in high concentrations in soybeans and soy-protein foods, may have beneficial effects in the prevention or treatment of many hormone-dependent diseases. Because these bioactive phyto-oestrogens possess a wide range of hormonal and non-hormonal activities, it has been suggested that adverse effects may occur in infants fed soy-based formulas. METHODS: To evaluate the extent of infant exposure to phyto-oestrogens from soy formula, the isoflavone composition of 25 randomly selected samples from five major brands of commercially available soy-based infant formulas were analysed, and the plasma concentrations of genistein and daidzein, and the intestinally derived metabolite, equol, were compared in 4-month-old infants fed exclusively soy-based infant formula (n = 7), cow-milk formula (n = 7), or human breast-milk (n = 7). FINDINGS: All of the soy formulas contained mainly glycosides of genistein and daidzein, and the total isoflavone content was similar among the five formulas analysed and was related to the proportion of soy isolate used in their manufacture. From the concentrations of isoflavones in these formulas (means 32-47 micrograms/mL), the typical daily volume of milk consumed, and average bodyweight, a 4-month-old infant fed soy formula would be exposed to 28-47 per day, or about 4.5-8.0 mg/kg bodyweight per day, of total isoflavones. Mean (SD) plasma concentrations of genistein and daidzein in the seven infants fed soy-based formulas were 684 (443) ng/mL and 295 (60) ng/mL, respectively, which was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than in the infants fed either cow-milk formulas (3.2 [0.7] and 2.1 [0.3] ng/mL), or human breast-milk (2.8 [0.7] and 1.4 [0.1] ng/mL), and an order of magnitude higher per bodyweight than typical plasma concentrations of adults consuming soy foods. INTERPRETATION: The daily exposure of infants to isoflavones in soy infant-formulas is 6-11 fold higher on a bodyweight basis than the dose that has hormonal effects in adults consuming soy foods. Circulating concentrations of isoflavones in the seven infants fed soy-based formula were 13000-22000 times higher than plasma oestradiol concentrations in early life, and may be sufficient to exert biological effects, whereas the contribution of isoflavones from breast-milk and cow-milk is negligible.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Infant massage improves mother-infant interaction for mothers with postnatal depression.

BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression can have long term adverse consequences for the mother-infant relationship and the infant's development. Improving a mother's depression per se has been found to have little impact on mother-infant interaction. The aims of this study were to determine whether attending regular massage classes could reduce maternal depression and also improve the quality of mother-infant interaction. METHOD: Thirty-four primiparous depressed mothers, median 9 weeks postpartum, identified as being depressed following completion of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 4 weeks postpartum, were randomly allocated either to an infant massage class and a support group (massage group) or to a support group (control group). Each group attended for five weekly sessions. Changes in maternal depression and mother-infant interaction were assessed at the beginning and the end of the study by comparing EPDS scores and ratings of videotaped mother-infant interaction. RESULTS: The EPDS scores fell in both groups. Significant improvement of mother-infant interaction was seen only in the massage group. LIMITATION: The sample size was small and had relatively high dropout. It was not possible to distinguish which aspects of the infant massage class contributed to the benefit. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that learning the practice of infant massage by mothers is an effective treatment for facilitating mother-infant interaction in mothers with postnatal depression.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Caregiving and help seeking by mothers of low birthweight infants and mothers of normal birthweight infants.

The purpose of this research was to describe perceptions of infant health, caregiving at home, and help seeking by mothers of low birthweight (LBW) infants (n = 30) and mothers of normal birthweight infants (n = 30). In this descriptive study, data were analyzed through multiple regression, t tests, and content analysis of responses to researcher-constructed questionnaires. There were statistically significant relationships between: infant health and both confidence in caregiving (R2 = 0.18, p<0.001) and caregiver burden (R2 = 0.29, p<0.001); preparation for caregiving and confidence in caregiving (R2 = 0.10, p<0.05); and confidence in caregiving and caregiver burden (R2 = 0.12, p<0.01). Compared with mothers of normal birthweight infants, mothers of LBW infants perceived poorer infant health, t (58) = -2.02, p = <0.05, and more caregiver burden, t (58) = 3.50, p = <0.001. Mothers reported seeking help from a variety of resources, mostly nonprofessional for questions on infant care or nonserious infant health problems, and mostly physicians for questions on serious infant health problems. Nurses can use knowledge of mothers' perceptions of infant health, caregiving, and help seeking to facilitate mothers' management of caregiving and resource use.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Kernicterus in late preterm infants cared for as term healthy infants.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical profile and health care experiences related to management of newborn jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants (<37(0/7) weeks gestation) who are cared for as term infants (> or =37(0/7) weeks) and develop acute and/or chronic posticteric sequelae. METHODS: Retrospective study of a convenient sample of term and near term infants voluntarily reported to the Pilot Kernicterus Registry (1992-2003). Study infants were required to meet the clinical definitions for acute bilirubin encephalopathy (moderate or advanced severity) and/or the classical signs of kernicterus. Main outcome measures were the comparison of etiology, severity and duration of extreme hyperbilirubinemia (TSB levels >20 mg/dL), response to interventions of intensive phototherapy and exchange transfusion, and health care delivery experiences in preterm as compared with term infants. RESULTS: No targeted attention was accorded to preterm infants during their neonatal health care experiences as related to predischarge risk assessment, feeding, discharge follow-up instructions, or breastfeeding, regardless of the known vulnerability of preterm infants to safely transition during the first week after birth. The TSB levels, age at re-hospitalization, and birth weight distribution were similar for late preterm and term infants. Large for gestational age and late preterm infants disproportionately developed kernicterus as compared with those who were appropriate for gestational age and term. Clinical management of extreme of hyperbilirubinemia, by the attending clinical providers, was not impacted or influenced by the gestational age, clinical signs, or risk assessment. This resulted in severe posticteric sequelae which was more severe and frequent in late preterm infants. CONCLUSIONS: Late prematurity (34(0/7) to 36(6/7) weeks) of healthy infants was not recognized as a risk factor for hazardous hyperbilirubinemia by clinical practitioners. Unsuccessful lactation experience was the most frequent experience; being large for gestational age as well as the other known biologic risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia and bilirubin neurotoxicity were not identified by the clinical care providers either before discharge or at immediate postdischarge follow up.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed2000

Early infant feeding and growth status of US-born infants and children aged 4-71 mo: analyses from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

BACKGROUND: There is controversy over what growth references to use in evaluating breast-fed infants and concern about whether never-breast-fed infants are at risk of overweight in childhood. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether infants who are exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo differ in average size from infants who are fed in other ways and whether such differences persist through age 5 y. DESIGN: Data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were linked to birth certificates of US-born infants and children. Feeding groups were defined on the basis of feeding patterns over the first 4 mo of life: exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo, partially breast-fed, breast-fed for <4 mo, and never breast-fed. Growth status, indexed as internally derived z scores (SD units) for weight, length (height), weight-for-length (height), midupper arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness, was compared among feeding groups. RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 5594 non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American infants and children aged 4-71 mo. Of these, 21% were exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo, 10% were partially breast-fed, 24% were breast-fed for <4 mo, and 45% were never breast-fed. At 8-11 mo, infants who were exclusively breast-fed for4 mo had adjusted mean z scores for weight (-0.21; -0.2 kg), weight-for-length (-0.27), and midupper arm circumference (-0.15) that differed significantly from zero (P < 0. 05). By 12-23 mo, the differences had dissipated; there were no significant differences subsequent to 5 y. Triceps skinfold thickness was not related to early infant feeding. CONCLUSION: Infants who were exclusively breast-fed for 4 mo weighed less at 8-11 mo than did infants who were fed in other ways, but there were few other significant differences in growth status through age 5 y associated with early infant feeding.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2002

Quality of infant-parent attachment as reflected in infant interactive behaviour during instructional tasks.

BACKGROUND: The quality of attachment of 127 Dutch 15-month-old infants to their primary caregivers was assessed using an abbreviated version of Ainsworth's Strange Situation. METHODS: In addition, infant-parent interaction was observed during a 12-minute series of instructional tasks both at home and in a lab setting. Infants were rated for 1) negativity, 2) avoidance, 3) compliance, and 4) positive affect shown towards the caregiver. RESULTS: At home, avoidant and disorganised infants showed significantly less compliance and significantly more avoidance and negative behaviour than securely attached children. At the lab, avoidant infants were significantly less compliant and more avoidant than secure infants, while disorganised infants distinguished themselves from secure children by significantly lower compliance and significantly higher negativity scores. The resistant infants did not distinguish themselves from the secure infants on any of the four behavioural scales. CONCLUSION: The results show brief observation of parent-infant interactions to yield valuable information on infant-parent attachment quality.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Characteristics of infants receiving prompt first diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunisation in an infant cohort.

The Centers for Disease Control in the United States have stated that studies to determine factors associated with failure to receive the first recommended dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis are required. We examined an infant cohort to identify family and infant characteristics predictive of prompt first immunisation, to document changes in prompt first immunisation rates over time and to identify reasons for immunisation delay. The study sample consisted of one-fifth of live births in Tasmania at risk of sudden infant death syndrome. From 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1994, families of 8011 infants (83 per cent of eligible infants) participated in a telephone interview when the infants were a median postnatal age of 11 weeks and 3 days. Prompt immunisation was defined as the report by parents of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination before a postnatal age of 10 weeks. The proportion of cohort infants promptly immunised increased (P < 0.0001) over time from 1988 to 1994. Prompt immunisation was associated with various characteristics of the infant and family. The proportion of infants promptly immunised decreased as birth order increased and as the interpregnancy interval between the index child and his or her immediately elder sibling decreased. After exclusion of infants not promptly immunised because of illness, birth order and interbirth interval remained significant predictors of prompt immunisation, suggesting that these factors are acting to increase immunisation delay through pathways unrelated to their potential effect on infant illness rates.

Appointments and Schedules↗