Objective: To observe the influence of feeding method on early growth rate of infants.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 416 infants born in a community in Beijing from October 2013 to October 2015. Infants fed by breast milk as the sole source of milk food were classed into the breastfeeding group, others were classed into the non-breastfeeding group. The information of physical examination on birth and within 6-month old was collected to analyze the influence of different feeding method on growth rate Z scores of length and body weight within 6-month old infants.
Results: When evaluating the effect of feeding patterns on the growth rate at 1 month, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 0-1 months and 0-3 months old body weight and body length growth rate Z score.When evaluating the effect of feeding patterns on the growth rate at 3 month, the results showed, in the 3-6 months old formula powder feeding group(0.60), the weight growth rate Z score of the infant was higher than that of the predominant breastfeeding group(-0.01).The length-growth rate Z score also showed that the formula powder feeding group(0.40) was higher than the predominant breastfeeding group(-0.03).The weight growth rate Z score of 0-6 months old was higher in the formula powder feeding group(0.90) than in the predominant breastfeeding group(0.60).The body length growth rate Z score was higher in the formula powder feeding group(1.00) than in the predominant breastfeeding group(0.70).
Conclusion: The feeding pattern of infants at 3 months of age will affect their subsequent growth rate. The addition of formula powder may cause the growth rate curve to shift upwards, thereby increasing the risk of overweight and obesity in infants.
Keywords: feeding methods; growth rate; infants.