Association of early feeding patterns with physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants: a retrospective study
- 1Department of Child Health Care, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University
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.
Subjects 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusion: 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.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026association,
title = {{Association of early feeding patterns with physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants: a retrospective study}},
author = {Cheng-Cheng Zhang and Xiao-Jing Xu and Yan Li and Ying-Yan Wang},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Association of early feeding patterns with physical growth and neurodevelopment in term high-risk infants: a retrospective study
AU - Cheng-Cheng Zhang
AU - Xiao-Jing Xu
AU - Yan Li
AU - Ying-Yan Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1995315/full
AB - 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. Subjects 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. Results: 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). Conclusion: 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.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -