Journal Article

Pacifier Use and Early Life Weight Outcomes in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories Study

Hohman, Emily E., Savage, Jennifer S., Paul, Ian M., Birch, Leann L., Beiler, Jessica S.

2018

Overview

Abstract Background: Although widely used by infants, little is known about the long-term effects of pacifiers. We investigated relationships between pacifier use in infancy and appetite, temperament, feeding, and weight outcomes through age 2 years using data from the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories study. Methods: Mother–newborn dyads were randomized to a responsive parenting intervention for obesity prevention or a control group. Infants with data on pacifier use (n = 250) were categorized as using a pacifier beyond early infancy (≥4 months of age) or not. Anthropometrics were measured at 6 months, 1, and 2 years with overweight defined as weight-for-length ≥95th percentile at 1 year and BMI ≥85th percentile at 2 years. Mothers completed questionnaires on temperament, appetite, and feeding. Results: Infants who used a pacifier at 4 months or later (68%) had greater conditional weight gain from birth to 6 months (p = 0.01), weight-for-length z-score at 1 year (p < 0.001), and BMI z-score at 2 years (p < 0.001) than infants who did not. Infants using a pacifier at ≥4 months were more likely to be overweight at ages 1 year (11.7% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.03) and 2 years (20.1% vs. 7.9%, p = 0.03). Pacifier use was associated with shorter breastfeeding duration and less responsive parent feeding styles, but these variables did not mediate the relationship between pacifiers and weight. Parent-reported temperament and appetite were unrelated to pacifier use. Conclusions: Pacifier use beyond early infancy is associated with accelerated infant growth and toddler overweight, although the reasons for this relationship are unclear.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Mary Ann Liebert, Inc
• Subject: Age / Appetite / Babies / Body Height / Body Mass Index / Body Weight / Breast Feeding / Breastfeeding & lactation / Child, Preschool / childhood obesity / Curricula / Eating behavior / Feeding Behavior / Female / Food / Health care / Health sciences / Humans / infancy / Infant / infant growth / Infant, Newborn / Male / Medicine / Mothers / Nurses / Nutrition / Obesity / Original / Pacifiers - adverse effects / Pacifiers - statistics & numerical data / Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology / Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control / Pediatrics / Public health / Questionnaires / Studies / Systematic review / Temperament / Weight Gain