Home visits by nurses improves infant feeding practices

Home visits by maternal and child health nurses to support disadvantaged mothers living in South western Sydney with the feeding and development of their infants, has resulted in longer breast feeding, later introduction of solids and infants lying on their tummies earlier ie "tummy time'.

Nutrition and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in New Zealand children

A literature review of the relationship between nutrition and lower respiratory tract infections in New Zealand preschoolers ( <5 years of age) has found the main contributors to be low birthweight, zinc deficiency and suboptimal breast feeding.

Do partially hydrolyzed infant formulas prevent allergies in high risk infants?

Research from Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne has found that partially hydrolyzed whey infant formula (PHF) is no better at preventing the development of allergies in high risk infants than regular cows milk infant formula or soy formula. PHF is usually recommended for non breast fed infants with a family history of allergy.

Baked milk foods may help children outgrow their milk allergy

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has shown that children with known milk allergies who included baked milk foods in their diet over a period of time ( range 8-75 months), developed a tolerance to unheated milk compared to those who avoided milk completely.

Prolonged bottle feeding increases obesity risk

Children who continue to receive their milk or other drinks in a baby feeding bottle or who are put to bed with the bottle up to age 2 years, are at increased risk of being obese at age 5.5 years. This was the finding of a recent study  published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Introduction of allergenic foods and risk of wheeze and eczema in young children

Introducing potentially allergenic foods (cows milk, hen's egg, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and gluten) to the infant's diet before 6 months of age will not increase the incidence of wheeze or eczema in young children aged 4 years and younger.  This study provides further evidence for introducing potentially allergenic foods to the infant's diet between 4 to 6 months of age when they are developmentally ready, irrespective of whether there is a family history of allergy or not.  It also supports the Infant Feeding Advice given by the Australian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)

Lack of sleep can make young children fatter

A New Zealand study has found that  children between the ages of 3 and 7 years who slept more had lower body weight than those children who slept less. Each additional hour of sleep between ages 3 and 5 years was linked to a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) at age 7 years.

Omega 3 intake during pregnancy linked to childhood obesity

A recent study has found that children whose mothers consumed a diet high in long chain polyunsaturated omega 3 fats such as DHA and EPA during pregnancy were less likely to be overweight at age 3 years than those children whose mothers consumed a diet higher in  long chain omega 6 fats.

Diet in pregnancy linked to childhood obesity

A study published in Diabetes has shown that a mother's diet during pregnancy can alter her baby's DNA so that the baby is more susceptible to overweight and obesity in later life. Changes to the DNA can alter the child's metabolism to promote fat storage.

Overweight and obesity a risk factor for stillbirth

A recent review of the risk factors for women in high income countries having a stillborn baby has found overweight and obesity ( BMI >25) to be at the top of the list. Other factors contributing to stillbirths include maternal age ( >35 years), maternal smoking, giving birth to the first child, pregnancy disorders, pre-exisitng diabetes and hypertension.