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Maternal nutrition, infants and children

Factors associated with the timing of introduction of complementary feeding: the Generation R Study

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 67, pages 625–630 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Many parents do not follow recommendations for the timing of introduction of complementary feeding. The aim of this study was to identify determinants associated with the timing of introduction of complementary feeding in a multiethnic birth cohort.

Subjects/methods:

Subjects were 3561 mothers and infants participating in a prospective cohort study. The timing of introduction of complementary feeding and maternal and infant characteristics were obtained by parent-derived questionnaires. Regression analyses were performed to identify determinants for the timing of introduction of complementary feeding (<3, 3–6 and ⩾6 months).

Results:

In total, 62% of infants were introduced to complementary feeding before the age of 6 months. Determinants for very early (<3 months) introduction were being a single parent and infant day care attendance. Determinants for early (3–6 months) introduction were young maternal age, multiple parities, no infant family history of asthma, atopy and no infant history of allergy to cow's milk. Determinants for both very early and early introduction were low educational level and not fully breastfeeding for 4 months. Maternal educational level was only significantly associated with the timing of introduction in mothers of Western origin.

Conclusions:

This study confirmed determinants for the timing of introduction of complementary feeding that have been identified by previous studies, which may be appropriate targets for education and guidance. Moreover, mothers whose infants attend day care and have a family history of asthma, atopy or allergy to cow’s milk may need guidance to follow infant feeding recommendations.

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Acknowledgements

The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipal Health Service–Rotterdam Metropolitan Area, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, and the Stichting Trombosedienst and Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond. This phase of the Generation R Study was supported by the Erasmus Medical Center, the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Zon Mw) and Europe Container terminals BV. We acknowledge the contributions of children and parents, general practitioners, hospitals and midwives in Rotterdam.

Disclaimer

The funders had no role in the design of the study, data collection and analyses, interpretation of data, preparation, review and decision to submit the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    I I M Tromp, S Briedé, J C Kiefte-de Jong & V W V Jaddoe

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    I I M Tromp, J C Kiefte-de Jong, V W V Jaddoe & H A Moll

  3. Department of Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C M Renders

  4. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    V W V Jaddoe, O H Franco & A Hofman

  5. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    H Raat

Authors
  1. I I M Tromp
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  2. S Briedé
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  4. C M Renders
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  5. V W V Jaddoe
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  7. A Hofman
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  9. H A Moll
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H A Moll.

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Competing interests

Oscar H Franco is the recipient of a grant from Pfizer nutrition to establish a new center on ageing research (ErasmusAGE).

Additional information

Contributors: Involvement in the design, planning and conducting the study and data collection: HAM, HR, AH, VWVJ, IIM, JCK, SB. Statistical analyses and interpreting data: SB, JCK. Drafting the final manuscript: IIM, SB, JCK, HAM. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: CMR, OHF. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript.

Supplementary Information accompanies this paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website

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Tromp, I., Briedé, S., Kiefte-de Jong, J. et al. Factors associated with the timing of introduction of complementary feeding: the Generation R Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 67, 625–630 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.50

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2013.50

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