Maternal Feeding Beliefs and Behaviors Relate to Infant Diet and Appetite

IntroductionMaternal feeding practices may be linked to infant obesogenic outcomes, but research to date has focused primarily on infant growth as an outcome of maternal feeding practices rather than exploring additional obesogenic outcomes like infant appetite and diet. Therefore, the current study examined the association between maternal feeding practices and beliefs and infant growth, diet, and appetite simultaneously at a critical timepoint for obesity risk development (i.e., 3-months-old).MethodsThirty-two 3-month-old infants and their mothers participated in this cross-sectional study. Infant anthropometrics were collected by trained staff and mothers completed questionnaires regarding maternal feeding practices and beliefs and infant diet and appetite. The data were analyzed by Spearman correlations.ResultsStatistically significant correlations were identified between maternal feeding practices (e.g., using food to calm, concern about infant weight) and infant satiety, appetite, food responsiveness, slow eating, and kilocalories consumed. Infant weight-for-length was related to maternal concern about infant underweight and mother-infant social interaction during feeding.DiscussionThese findings highlight the importance of the mother-infant feeding relationship and how these associations may influence responsive feeding practices and infant weight-related outcomes. SignificanceWhat is already known on the subject? Growth trajectories in infancy predict subsequent obesity, and maternal feeding practices and beliefs play a significant role in infant growth.What this study adds? The current study adds to the field by identifying that maternal beliefs (e.g., concern about infant weight) and behaviors (e.g., using food to calm) were uniquely associated with infant obesogenic outcomes (e.g., satiety, appetite) at a critical timepoint in future obesity risk (i.e., 3-months-old). These findings highlight the need of maternal psychoeducation on responsive feeding to increase awareness of child cues, thereby potentially lowering child obesity risk.