{
  "abstract": "Background and objectives: The relationship between early feeding patterns and growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between feeding patterns during the first 6 months of life and physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants.\n\nSubjects and methods: A total of 108 term high-risk infants were retrospectively included and classified according to feeding patterns during the first 6 months of life into an exclusive breastfeeding group ( n = 32), a mixed feeding group ( n = 45), and a formula feeding group ( n = 31). Data on weight, length, and head circumference at 6, 8, and 12 months were collected. Weight-for-age Z score (WAZ), length-for-age Z score (LAZ), and head circumference-for-age Z score (HCZ) were calculated using WHO Anthro software. Neurodevelopment at 8 and 12 months was assessed using the Developmental Screening Test (DST) for children aged 0–6 years in China. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the associations between feeding patterns and physical growth trajectories, with adjustment for sex, birth weight, fetal/neonatal risk factors, and maternal risk factors.\n\nResults: In unadjusted analyses, the exclusive breastfeeding group had higher WAZ and LAZ at 6 months, higher WAZ and HCZ at 8 months, and higher WAZ at 12 months than the formula feeding group (all p < 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, the feeding group × time interaction was significant for LAZ ( p = 0.004), but not for WAZ ( p = 0.265) or HCZ ( p = 0.168). At 6 months, WAZ (adjusted MD = 0.721, 95% CI: 0.126–1.316; p = 0.012) and LAZ (adjusted MD = 0.602, 95% CI: 0.059–1.144; p = 0.024) remained higher in the exclusive breastfeeding group than in the formula feeding group, whereas no significant between-group differences were observed at 8 or 12 months. No significant differences in DQ or developmental classification were observed among the feeding groups at 8 or 12 months (all p > 0.05).\n\nConclusion: Early feeding patterns were associated with growth trajectories in term high-risk infants, and breastfeeding may have been associated with more favorable physical growth in early life. No clear differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed among feeding patterns; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited sample size available for neurodevelopmental assessment.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Child Health Care, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Cheng-Cheng Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiao-Jing Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yan Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ying-Yan Wang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3jjpwp4wvp9cz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "3jjpwp4wvp9cz",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2916|Infant Nutrition and Health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224106816",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3jjpwp4wvp9cz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2296-2565",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Association of early feeding patterns with physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants: a retrospective study",
  "title_text": "Association of early feeding patterns with physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants: a retrospective study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3jjpwp4wvp9cz",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
  "versions": []
}