Abstract

The present study aimed to explore previously unreported ethnic differences in infant feeding practices during the introduction of solid foods, accounting for maternal and birth factors, and to determine whether these feeding patterns are associated with BMI at 3 years of age. An observational study using Poisson regression was carried out to investigate the relationship between ethnicity and infant feeding practices and linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between feeding practices and BMI at 3 years of age in a subsample of 1327 infants in Bradford. It was found that compared with White British mothers, mothers of Other ethnicities were less likely to replace breast milk with formula milk before introducing solid foods (adjusted relative risk (RR) - Pakistani: 0 center dot 76 (95% CI 0 center dot 64, 0 center dot 91), Other South Asian: 0 center dot 58 (95% CI 0 center dot 39, 0 center dot 86), and Other ethnicities: 0 center dot 50 (95% CI 0 center dot 34, 0 center dot 73)). Pakistani and Other South Asian mothers were less likely to introduce solid foods early (<17 weeks) (adjusted RR - Pakistani: 0 center dot 92 (95% CI 0 center dot 87, 0 center dot 96) and Other South Asian: 0 center dot 87 (95% CI 0 center dot 81, 0 center dot 93)). Other South Asian mothers and mothers of Other ethnicities were more likely to continue breast-feeding after introducing solid foods (adjusted RR - 1 center dot 72 (95% CI 1 center dot 29, 2 center dot 29) and 2 center dot 12 (95% CI 1 center dot 60, 2 center dot 81), respectively). Pakistani and Other South Asian infants were more likely to be fed sweetened foods (adjusted RR - 1 center dot 18 (95% CI 1 center dot 13, 1 center dot 23) and 1 center dot 19 (95% CI 1 center dot 10, 1 center dot 28), respectively) and Pakistani infants were more likely to consume sweetened drinks (adjusted RR 1 center dot 72 (95% CI 1 center dot 15, 2 center dot 57)). No association between infant feeding practices and BMI at 3 years was observed. Although ethnic differences in infant feeding practices were found, there was no association with BMI at 3 years of age. Interventions targeting infant feeding practices need to consider ethnicity to identify which populations are failing to follow recommendations.