Associations between breastfeeding, nourishing introduction and neuropsychomotor development in the first six months of life

Abstract

Introduction: breastfeeding plays a fundamental role for nutritional, emotional, physical, oral motor system, as well as neuropsychomotor child development. Objective: to investigate the association of neuropsychomotor development, and nourishing introduction with breastfeeding in the first six months of life. Method: 16 infants without risk factors for developmental delay were monitored monthly from motherhood to six months for the evaluation of neuropsychomotor development through the Screening Test Denver II and eating routine and oral habits through a questionnaire. Results: in the first month, 87.5% of infants were breastfed, but 62.5% had early introduction of tea, water and other milks and 68.7% had oral habits. In the sixth month 18.7% had exclusive breastfeeding, 43.75% mixed feeding and 37.5% were using artificial milk, and 84.6% had introduced solids. 56.25% had oral habits. All the infants had adequate development in the evaluation while their stay in the maternity. In the sixth month in social personal area 93.75% had adequate development, and 6.25% were advanced. In adaptive fine motor, 87.5% suitable, advanced 6.25% and 6.25% were at risk. In the language 100% were age appropriate and in gross motor 31.25% were adequate and 68.75% advanced. Conclusion: the children who remained breastfed showed a better neuropsychomotor development and a lower incidence of deleterious oral habits, with no difference in nourishing introduction.