Body size and growth in 0- to 4-year-old children and the relation to body size in primary school age.

Excess weight in early life is believed to increase susceptibility to obesity, and in support of such theory, excess weight and fast weight gain in early childhood have been related to overweight later in life. The aim of this study was to review the literature on body size and growth in 0- to 4-year-old children and the association with body size at age 5-13 years. In total, 43 observational studies on body size and/or growth were included, of which 24 studies had been published in 2005 or later. Twenty-one studies considered body size at baseline, and 31 studies considered growth which all included assessment of weight gain. Eight (38%) studies on body size, and 15 (48%) on weight gain were evaluated as high-quality studies. Our results support conclusions in previous reviews of a positive association between body size and weight gain in early childhood, and subsequent body size. Body size at 5-6 months of age and later and weight gain at 0-2 years of age were consistently positively associated with high subsequent body size. Results in this review were mainly based on studies from developed Western countries, but seven studies from developing countries showed similar results to those from developed countries.

Reluctance to continue breastfeeding in The Netherlands.

UNLABELLED: A prospective cohort study of breastfeeding practice (0-4 mo) was carried out in well-baby clinics. The cohort included 4438 newborns brought to a clinic for the first time between 1 April and 1 July 1998. The odds ratios of demographic and gestational variables connected with the start and duration of breastfeeding were measured. The frequency of the reasons why breastfeeding was interrupted was determined. At birth 71% of the infants included in this study were exclusively breastfed. After 4 mo the percentage had dropped to 21%. Breast milk was replaced directly by formula (23%) or by a mixture of breast milk and formula (77%). Exclusive breastfeeding was given irrespective of the mother's cultural background. Higher education appeared to be the most decisive factor for the initiation of exclusive breastfeeding; higher parity was found to be the most decisive factor for continuation. In 46% of cases the infant's health and behaviour caused mothers to stop exclusive breastfeeding; in 38% the reasons were mother related; in 17% both mother- and infant-related motives were mentioned. CONCLUSION: Mothers' perception of hunger and crying colics were the main infant-related reasons for cessation of breastfeeding, whereas physical problems, return to work, doubt about the sufficiency of breast milk and the feeling of being restricted by breastfeeding were the main mother-related reasons. The decision to abandon exclusive breastfeeding was made primarily by mothers (71%). In The Netherlands more babies are breastfed at birth than was the case 10 y ago, but the duration of the breastfeeding period has become shorter.

[1901-2001: 100 years of physicians of infant and toddler welfare centers in the Netherlands]. / 1901-2001: 100 jaar artsen op het consultatiebureau voor zuigelingen en peuters.

This year marks the centenary of infant welfare centres in the Netherlands. In 1901, Plantenga opened the first infant welfare centre in The Hague, the Netherlands. Initially, only advice about feeding was given and the growth of the infant was monitored. To support mothers, extra milk was supplied in so-called 'milk kitchens'. Over the years the tasks have been extended to include a wide range of preventive measures. At first the doctors in infant welfare clinics were predominantly paediatricians but later general practitioners and doctors specialised in infant primary health care followed. In their 100-years existence, infant welfare clinics have grown into an intricate network which sees 98% of Dutch infants.