Infant movement opportunities are related to early growth--GECKO Drenthe cohort

Background: Movement by an infant during the first year of life might influence its activity level and thereby influence growth in early childhood.

Aim: To examine whether the time that an infant is able to move unrestrictedly and time spent in baby seats are related to weight and waist circumference at age 9 months and growth from 9 to 24 months.

Methods: In the GECKO Drenthe birth cohort, weight and height were measured in Well Baby Clinics at the ages of 9 and 24 months. Time spent moving unrestrictedly and time spent in baby seats were reported on a questionnaire at age 9 months. Children born <37 weeks or with a low birthweight (<2500 g) were excluded. Outcomes were defined as the Z-scores for weight-for-height, weight-for-age, and waist circumference-for-age at the ages of 9 and 24 months, and changes in Z-scores as between 9 and 24 months of age.

Results: The time an infant is able to move unrestrictedly at age 9 months was inversely related to Z-score waist circumference at 9 months, and the change in Z-scores weight-for-height and weight-for-age between the ages 9 and 24 months. For time spent in baby seats, 'never users' showed a decline in Z-score weight-for-height as compared to those who used baby seats. On the contrary, Z-score waist circumference-for-age declined in children sitting for 1h or more in baby seats.

Conclusion: More time spent moving unrestrictedly in infancy may contribute to a healthy growth pattern.