Predictors of infant feeding frequency by mexican immigrant mothers

With an increase in the prevalence of overweight being seen in infancy, it is essential that the factors that account for early excess weight gain be identified. In this study, maternal and infant characteristics were examined to determine their relation to the frequency of feeding infants. A cohort of 67 Mexican mothers who fed their infants formula were recruited at a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) center and visited at home when their infants were 6 months old. Mothers were surveyed on their feeding attitudes and perceptions of their infants' temperaments, along with a 24-hour diary of each infant's behavior. Nearly 30% of the 6-month-old infants were at or above the 85th percentile of weight for length. A regression analysis revealed only one factor, the number of infant crying episodes, as predictive of infant feeding (β = .246, P < .07), with a strong correlation (r = .35 (P < .01)). Because crying appeared to initiate feeding of infants among these mothers, pediatricians, nurses, and WIC educators should consider discussing alternate strategies for quieting infants during counseling sessions.