Abstract
Objective: To test breastfeeding duration and responsive parenting as independent predictors of infant weight change from birth to 12 months, and to test the moderating effect of a tiered parenting intervention on relations between breastfeeding and responsive parenting in relation to infant weight change. Methods: Mother-infant dyads (N = 403) were participants in the ongoing Smart Beginnings (SB) randomized controlled trial testing the impact of the tiered SB parenting model that incorporates two evidence-based interventions: Video Interaction Project (VIP) and Family Check-Up (FCU). The sample was low income and predominantly Black and Latinx. Responsive parenting variables (maternal sensitivity and intrusiveness) came from coded observations of mother-infant interactions when infants were 6 months. Continuous weight-for-age (WFA) z-score change and infant rapid weight gain (RWG) from 0 to 12 months were both assessed. Results: Longer breastfeeding duration was significantly associated with less WFA z-score change. The relationship between breastfeeding duration and WFA z-score change was significant only for infants in the intervention group. Intrusive parenting behaviors were also associated with greater WFA z-score change after accounting for breastfeeding duration. Conclusions: This study is one of the first to test both breastfeeding and parenting in relation to infant weight gain in the first year. Findings may have implications for family-focused child obesity prevention programs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 768-778 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of pediatric psychology |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2021 |
Keywords
- health promotion and prevention
- infancy and early childhood
- obesity and weight management
- parenting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology