Postnatal factors associated with failure to thrive in term infants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Issue 2 (11th August 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Emond, A; Drewett, R; Blair, P; Emmett, P
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 92:Issue 2(2007)
• Page Start: 115
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2006-08-11
• Subjects: ALSPAC, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children -- FTT, failure to thrive; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.091496
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To assess the contribution of postnatal factors to failure to thrive in infancy. Methods: 11 900 infants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), born at 37–41 weeks' gestation, without major malformations and with a complete set of weight measurements in infancy (83% of the original ALSPAC birth cohort) were studied. Conditional weight gain was calculated for the periods from birth to 8 weeks and 8 weeks to 9 months. Cases of growth faltering were defined as those infants with a conditional weight gain below the 5th centile. Results: Analysis yielded 528 cases of growth faltering from birth to 8 weeks and 495 cases from 8 weeks to 9 months. In multivariable analysis, maternal factors predicting poor infant growth were height <160 cm and age >32 years. Growth faltering between birth and 8 weeks was associated with infant sucking problems regardless of the type of milk, and with infant illness. After 8 weeks of age, the most important postnatal influences on growth were the efficiency of feeding, the ability to successfully take solids and the duration of breast feeding. Conclusions: The most important postnatal factors associated with growth faltering are the type and efficiency of feeding: no associations were found with social class or parental education. In the first 8 weeks of life, weak sucking is the most important symptom for both breastfed and bottle-fed babies. After 8 weeks, the duration of breast feeding, the quantity of milk taken and difficulties in weaning are the most important influences.