Exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and food choices in UK infants.

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist that explore the association between exclusive breastfeeding and dietary behaviors related to key food choices in later infancy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months with age of starting complementary feeding and key complementary feeding data collected at 8 to 10 months.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis was performed on the UK Infant Feeding Survey 2005.

RESULTS

After adjusting for maternal characteristics, exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months, compared to mixed or formula feeding, was positively associated with giving homemade infant foods (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.66), vegetables (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.25-1.72), fruits (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI, 1.42-2.11), and fresh foods frequently (AOR = 2.24; 95% CI, 1.41-3.56) at 8 to 10 months of age. Conversely, exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months, compared to mixed or formula feeding, was negatively associated with very early complementary feeding (AOR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.30-0.42) and giving the following foods at 8 to 10 months of age: baby food from jar (AOR = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66-0.92), powdered baby food (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.57-0.94), canned baby food (AOR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.32-0.71), and ready-made bought meals (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57-0.78).

CONCLUSION

Exclusively breastfeeding for 3 months compared to mixed or formula feeding was positively associated with the introduction of complementary feeding after 4 months and giving infants fruits, vegetables, and homemade infant foods frequently at 8 to 10 months.