title: Breastfeeding is associated with a maternal feeding style low in control from birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of maternal child-feeding style upon child weight and eating style for children over the age of twelve months is well established. However there is little empirical evidence examining maternal child-feeding style during milk feeding despite evidence that mothers who breastfeed exert lower levels of control over later diet. The aim of this paper was to examine variation in maternal child-feeding style during the first six months postpartum and to explore associations with mode of milk feeding and infant weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) is frequently used to measure maternal child-feeding style in preschool children. 390 mothers with an infant aged 0-6 months completed an adapted version of the CFQ to measure maternal child-feeding style during milk feeding. Participants reported breastfeeding duration, infant weight and perceived size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Principle components analysis of questionnaire items produced six factors; encouraging feeding, feeding to a routine, limiting intake, concern for weight, monitoring and perceived responsibility. Breastfeeding was associated with lower levels of control compared to formula feeding. Infant birth weight was significantly inversely associated with concern for weight, monitoring and encouraging feeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formula feeding is associated with greater maternal control of child-feeding from birth whilst a lower birth weight is linked to concerns for infant weight and pressure to eat. As early maternal child-feeding relationships may impact negatively upon longer term child weight and eating style, identifying variations in maternal feeding style and understanding the factors that influence this is pertinent.
authors: Department of Public Health and Policy Studies, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom. a.e.brown@swansea.ac.uk
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Brown
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references: Am J Clin Nutr. 1993 Aug;58(2):152-61
references: 8338041
references: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):259-68
references: 19538614
references: Obes Res. 2004 Nov;12(11):1711-22
references: 15601964
references: Appetite. 2001 Jun;36(3):201-10
references: 11358344
references: J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Jun;20(3):209-11
references: 11444415
references: Pediatrics. 2006 Aug;118(2):e293-8
references: 16882774
references: Matern Child Nutr. 2005 Jul;1(3):164-8
references: 16881896
references: J Am Diet Assoc. 1984 May;84(5):543-6
references: 6715750
references: Pediatrics. 2004 Nov;114(5):e577-83
references: 15492358
references: Pediatrics. 2008 Jan;121(1):e164-9
references: 18166535
references: Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2002 Oct;41(8):603-7
references: 12403378
references: Pediatr Obes. 2012 Oct;7(5):382-90
references: 22911888
references: J Hum Lact. 2009 May;25(2):206-10
references: 19414822
references: Pediatrics. 2007 Oct;120(4):e953-9
references: 17908750
references: Behav Processes. 1980 Apr;5(1):1-20
references: 24925154
references: J Adv Nurs. 2011 Sep;67(9):1993-2003
references: 21507050
references: J Hum Nutr Diet. 2011 Apr;24(2):177-86
references: 21332836
references: Pediatrics. 2010 Jun;125(6):e1386-93
references: 20457676
references: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Jul;28(7):858-69
references: 15170463
references: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2008 Mar 17;5:15
references: 18346282
references: J Pediatr. 2009 Nov;155(5):651-6
references: 19595373
references: Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jul;16(7):1651-6
references: 18451768
references: Matern Child Nutr. 2010 Apr;6(2):159-73
references: 20624212
references: Pediatrics. 1992 Feb;89(2):215-20
references: 1734387
references: Int J Pediatr Obes. 2009;4(4):196-204
references: 19922033
references: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Oct;28(10):1247-56
references: 15314625
references: Appetite. 2006 Jan;46(1):49-56
references: 16352374
references: Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Oct;31(10):1520-6
references: 17579636
references: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2007 Sep-Oct;36(5):501-10
references: 17880323
references: J Hum Lact. 1995 Mar;11(1):21-6
references: 7718102
references: Appetite. 2008 Jul;51(1):166-72
references: 18342396