Predictors of Early Introduction of Core and Discretionary Foods in Australian Infants—Results from HSHK Birth Cohort Study

• Main Authors: Narendar Manohar, Andrew Hayen, Sameer Bhole, Amit Arora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: complementary foods; core foods; discretionary foods; determinants; infants; nutrition
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/258

Early introduction of complementary foods can have a detrimental impact on children&#8217;s long-term health. This study examined the timing and determinants of early introduction of core and discretionary foods among infants in Sydney, Australia. Mothers (<i>n</i> = 1035) from an ongoing population-based birth cohort study were interviewed at 8, 17, 34 and 52 weeks postpartum. The outcome was &#8216;age at which particular core and discretionary food items were first introduced&#8217;. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate family and infant-related determinants of early introduction of core (&lt;17 weeks of age) and discretionary foods (&lt;52 weeks of age). Of the 934 mother-infant dyads interviewed, 12% (<i>n</i> = 113) of infants were introduced core foods before 17 weeks of age (median: 22). Mothers working part-time (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 3.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.54&#8722;7.62) and those exclusively formula-feeding their babies at four-weeks postpartum (adjusted OR 3.26, 95% CI: 1.99&#8722;5.33) were most likely to introduce core foods early. Ninety-five percent (<i>n</i> = 858) of infants were introduced discretionary foods before 52 weeks of age (median: 28). Low socio-economic status was significantly associated with early introduction of discretionary foods (adjusted OR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.17&#8722;11.78). Compliance with infant feeding guidelines related to core foods was better; however, discretionary foods were introduced early in most infants.