Mindless feeding: Is maternal distraction during bottle-feeding associated with overfeeding?
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ABSTRACT: Mindless eating, or eating while distracted by surrounding stimuli, leads to overeating. The present study explored whether "mindless feeding," or maternal distraction during bottle-feeding, is associated with greater infant formula/milk intakes and lower maternal sensitivity to infant cues. Mothers and their ?24-week-old bottle-feeding infants (N?=?28) visited our laboratory for a video-recorded feeding observation. Infant intake was assessed by weighing bottles before and after the feedings. Maternal sensitivity to infant cues was objectively assessed by behavioral coding of video-records using the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale. Maternal distraction was defined as looking away from the infant >75% of the feeding; using a mobile device; conversing with another adult; or sleeping. Twenty-nine percent (n?=?8) of mothers were distracted. While differences in intakes for infants of distracted vs. not distracted mothers did not reach significance (p?=?0.24), the association between distraction and infant intake was modified by two dimensions of temperament: orienting/regulation capacity (p?=?0.03) and surgency/extraversion (p?=?0.04). For infants with low orienting/regulation capacity, infants of distracted mothers consumed more (177.1?±?33.8?ml) than those of not distracted mothers (92.4?±?13.8?ml). Similar findings were noted for infants with low surgency/extraversion (distracted: 140.6?±?22.5?ml; not distracted: 78.4?±?14.3?ml). No association between distraction and intake was seen for infants with high orienting/regulation capacity or surgency/extraversion. A significantly greater proportion of distracted mothers showed low sensitivity to infant cues compared to not distracted mothers (p?=?0.04). In sum, mindless feeding may interact with infant characteristics to influence feeding outcomes; further experimental and longitudinal studies are needed.
SUBMITTER: Golen RB
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4464819 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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