Life Sciences Commons^™

Knowledge And Use Of Paced Bottle-Feeding Among Mothers Of Young Infants, Alison K. Ventura, Vivian M. Drewelow

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To describe mothers’ awareness and use of paced bottle-feeding (PBF) and to investigate whether the use of PBF was associated with maternal characteristics and infant feeding practices.

Methods: Cross-sectional, online survey. Participants were mothers of infants < 12 months of age (n =197). Participants self-reported their awareness and use of PBF, demographic characteristics, and infant feeding practices.

Results: Of the 41% of participants who indicated they had or maybe had heard of PBF, 23% used PBF and 35% sometimes used PBF. Use of PBF was not associated with mother or infant characteristics. Participants who used PBF were significantly less likely to encourage their infant to finish the bottle (odds ratio,0.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.01−0.79).

Conclusions and Implications: Paced bottle-feeding was …

Strategies To Promote Responsive Bottle-Feeding In Wic Predict Less Frequent Use Of Food To Soothe And Healthier Weight Status For Infants With Negative Temperaments, Alison K. Ventura, Shannon E. Whaley

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: Infants with greater temperamental negative affectivity are at higher risk for overfeeding and excess weight gain.

Objective: To examine whether strategies to promote responsive bottle-feeding within WIC promoted healthier maternal feeding practices and infant weight status among infants with greater negative affectivity.

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a matched-pair cluster randomized trial. Policy, systems and environmental change (PSE) strategies to promote responsive bottle-feeding were implemented at three WIC clinics; these clinics were compared with three matched control clinics. Linear mixed models tested whether infant negative affectivity interacted with PSE strategies to predict feeding and weight outcomes when infants …

Associations Between Mothers’ Use Of Food To Soothe, Feeding Mode, And Infant Weight During Early Infancy, Megan K. Hupp, Peggy C. Papathakis, Suzanne Phelan, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Weight status and rate of weight gain in the first six months postpartum are strong predictors of later obesity; thus, infant feeding practices are an important target for obesity prevention efforts. The use of food to soothe (FTS) is associated with less-favorable eating habits and weight outcomes for older infants and children. However, few studies have examined correlates of use of FTS during early infancy. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore associations between use of FTS and infant weight status in the first 6 months postpartum. A secondary aim was to identify the combination of maternal …

Promoting Responsive Bottle-Feeding Within Wic: Evaluation Of A Policy, Systems, And Environmental Change Approach, Alison K. Ventura, Karina Silva Garcia, Martha Meza, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Catherine E. Martinez, Shannon E. Whaley

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background Bottle-fed infants are at greater risk for overfeeding and rapid weight gain (RWG); evidence-based strategies for promoting healthy bottle-feeding practices are needed.

Objective Our aim was to assess whether policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies for promoting responsive bottle-feeding practices within the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) were associated with lower risk for RWG.

Design We conducted a matched-pair cluster randomized trial. PSE strategies were implemented at 3 WIC clinics in Los Angeles County. PSE clinics were compared with 3 matched control clinics. Mothers and infants were assessed when infants were newborn and 3 …

Exploring Correlates Of Infant Clarity Of Cues During Early Feeding Interactions, Alison K. Ventura, Sierra Sheeper, Jordyn Levy

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background Recommendations aimed at reducing infants’ risk for rapid weight gain primarily focus on promoting caregivers’ use of responsive feeding practices and styles. These recommendations are grounded in the belief that infants will effectively signal hunger and satiation to their caregivers. To date, few studies have explored how variability in infants’ communication of hunger and satiation may contribute to feeding interactions.

Objective Our aim was to explore variability in, and correlates of, infant clarity of cues during feeding interactions.

Design This was a cross-sectional study.

Participants/setting Mother-infant dyads (n = 86) were video-recorded during a typical feeding interaction within laboratory-based …

Effects Of Opaque, Weighted Bottles On Maternal Sensitivity And Infant Intake, Alison K. Ventura, Alexandra Hernandez

Kinesiology and Public Health

Caregivers' abilities to assess how much is in the bottle may lead to encouragement of infant bottle emptying and overfeeding. The present study assessed whether use of opaque, weighted bottles (as compared with conventional, clear bottles) improves feeding outcomes. Mothers with infants <32 weeks of age (n = 76) were assessed on two separate days. Mothers fed their infants from an opaque, weighted bottle on 1 day and a clear bottle on the other; conditions were counterbalanced. Blinded raters certified in the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale scored all videos to determine maternal sensitivity. Infant intake was assessed by weighing the bottle before and …

Maternal Distraction During Breast- And Bottle Feeding Among Wic And Non-Wic Mothers, Alison K. Ventura, Simone Teitelbaum

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To explore the prevalence and correlates of maternal distraction during infant feeding within a sample of mothers enrolled or not in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Design: Mothers kept diaries of their infants’ feeding patterns.

Participants: Mothers (n = 75) with infants aged ≤6 months.

Main Outcome Measures: Within the diaries, mothers recorded what else, if anything, they did during the feeding. Mothers also completed questionnaires on demographics, feeding styles, and infant temperament and eating behaviors.

Analysis: Mothers’ responses were coded into thematic categories. Feedings were classified as distracted when the mothers reported …

Associations Between Breastfeeding And Maternal Responsiveness: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

Recent recommendations and prevention programs have focused on the promotion of responsive feeding during infancy, but more research is needed to understand best practices for fostering responsive feeding during early life. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize the accumulating bodies of evidence aimed at understanding associations between mothers' feeding experiences and responsive feeding in an attempt to clarify the nature of associations between feeding mode and responsive feeding. A literature search was conducted between January and October 2016; articles were collected from PsychINFO, Medline, and CINAHL, as well as from references in published research and reviews. Article …