Breastfeeding and introduction of complementary food in Danish infants

TY - JOUR

T1 - Breastfeeding and introduction of complementary food in Danish infants

AU - Kronborg, Hanne

AU - Foverskov, Else

AU - Væth, Michael

N1 - © 2015 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.

PY - 2015/3

Y1 - 2015/3

N2 - AIM: The purpose of the present study was to describe early feeding patterns in Danish infants.METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 7113 mothers of newborns in the western part of Denmark approximately 6 months postpartum. A total of 5127 mothers (72%) returned the questionnaire and 4526 (88%) of the responding mothers provided valid answers to questions on infant nutrition.RESULTS: Breastfeeding was initiated after birth by 97%. At the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, 68%, 55% and 7% of the infants, respectively, were fully breastfed, i.e. they received mother's milk only. Full breastfeeding at 4 months was for infants significantly associated with higher birth weight, longer gestational age and singleton birth; for mothers it was associated with older ages, higher educational level, lower BMI and multiparity. During the first weeks, 14% of the infants were introduced to formula and this proportion increased to 32%, 43% and 74% at 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively. Only 20% of the infants never received formula during the first 6 months of life. Time for introduction of solid food was associated with breastfeeding status. At 4 months, 3% of the previously fully breastfed infants were introduced to solid food, 12% of the partially breastfed and 17% of the non-breastfed. At 6 months, 87% of the infants had been introduced to solid food.CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Danish mothers introduced infants to solid food between 4 and six months, and did not exclusively breastfeed until 6 months, as recommended by WHO.

AB - AIM: The purpose of the present study was to describe early feeding patterns in Danish infants.METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 7113 mothers of newborns in the western part of Denmark approximately 6 months postpartum. A total of 5127 mothers (72%) returned the questionnaire and 4526 (88%) of the responding mothers provided valid answers to questions on infant nutrition.RESULTS: Breastfeeding was initiated after birth by 97%. At the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, 68%, 55% and 7% of the infants, respectively, were fully breastfed, i.e. they received mother's milk only. Full breastfeeding at 4 months was for infants significantly associated with higher birth weight, longer gestational age and singleton birth; for mothers it was associated with older ages, higher educational level, lower BMI and multiparity. During the first weeks, 14% of the infants were introduced to formula and this proportion increased to 32%, 43% and 74% at 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively. Only 20% of the infants never received formula during the first 6 months of life. Time for introduction of solid food was associated with breastfeeding status. At 4 months, 3% of the previously fully breastfed infants were introduced to solid food, 12% of the partially breastfed and 17% of the non-breastfed. At 6 months, 87% of the infants had been introduced to solid food.CONCLUSIONS: The majority of Danish mothers introduced infants to solid food between 4 and six months, and did not exclusively breastfeed until 6 months, as recommended by WHO.

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Breast Feeding

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Feeding Behavior

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Infant Food

KW - Infant Formula

KW - Infant, Newborn

KW - Mothers

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

U2 - 10.1177/1403494814567171

DO - 10.1177/1403494814567171

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25630521

SN - 1403-4948

VL - 43

SP - 138

EP - 145

JO - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

JF - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica

IS - 2

ER -