Library Bulletin - Journal Articles - February 2010
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INFANTS
SIDNELL, A and GREENSTREET, E. Infant nutrition - protein and its influence on growth rate. Nutrition Bulletin Vol 34, No 4 - December 2009: 395-400
Abstract: Breastfeeding provides the optimum nutrition for young infants and one of the aims of the new UK-World Health Organization growth charts is to encourage healthcare professionals and parents to see breastfed infants' growth rate as the norm. Formula-fed infants gain weight more quickly than breastfed infants in the first year of life, and this may be because of the greater quantity of protein in infant formula. Childhood obesity rates are increasing and obesity is probably the result of a multitude of factors. Observational studies have indicated that rapid growth in infancy may contribute to a later risk of obesity. New randomised controlled studies have shown that lower protein levels in infant formula can slow infants' weight gain, and this may offer short- and long-term health benefits. New innovations in protein quality now allow reductions in the total protein content of infant formula.
WHITE, Jane M. Weaning : what influences the timing? Community Practitioner Vol 82, No 12 - December 2009: 34-37
Abstract: Appropriate nutrition during infancy is essential for optimal growth and development, and when solid food is introduced is recognised as important. Guidelines recommend that infants start weaning from six months. This locally-based study aimed to investigate parental decisions to start weaning. A postal questionnaire was sent to 203 families with infants aged between seven and 10 months. Weaning earlier than the recommendations was common - by the age of four months, more than half of infants had commenced weaning. Considerable social patterning of feeding practices was found, with those living in socially deprived circumstances least likely to follow the guidelines. The most common reported reasons for weaning were internal factors including the perception that the infant was ready. The majority of the respondents had received or sought a form of formal advice from their health visitor. Although receiving information was not associated with the timing of weaning, when the advice was delivered was significantly associated with when solids were reportedly introduced. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this study.