Introduction: Early infant behaviour and nutrition are linked to health and development. While appetite and temperament relate to growth, they are highly inter-correlated. Using a prospective longitudinal design, we hypothesise that early behavioural traits are longitudinally associated with infant growth. Methods: Breastfeeding mothers (n=64), recruited during pregnancy at antenatal clinics in Klang Valley, Malaysia, were followed up during home visits (HV) after birth at 2, 6-8, 12-14, and 16-18 weeks of infant age. Mothers completed validated questionnaires assessing infant appetite (Baby Eating Behaviour Questionnaire) and temperament (Revised Rothbart’s Infant Behaviour Questionnaire), while infant weight and length were measured at each HV. At the final follow-up, 62 infants were included in the regression analyses. Results: Appetite and temperament traits were shown to be associated with infant growth outcomes at different time points (n=63 at HV3 and n=62 at HV4). Specifically, food responsiveness and effortful control were positively correlated with infant growth (e.g., weight standard deviation, SD gain: B=0.50, p=0.01). Conversely, slowness in eating was negatively associated with infant weight outcomes across time points (e.g., weight SD HV4: B=-0.45, p<0.01). Multivariate analyses consistently demonstrated appetite and temperament traits as predictors of infant growth measurements at different time points. Conclusion: Early determination of appetite and temperament traits was associated with early infant growth trajectories. Further research with a longer follow-up and larger sample size is needed to ascertain the influence of possible infant behavioural programming on later health outcomes.

Introduction: Baby-friendly hospital practices and family support are recognised to improve the chances of successful breastfeeding. The associations between support and maternal psychological state and breastfeeding problems are less explored. This study aimed to assess the influence of professional and family support on breastfeeding adverse events and postpartum depression at 2 weeks and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) status at 12 weeks postpartum, and to identify predictors of positive outcomes. Methods: 64 primiparous Malaysian mothers were interviewed face-to-face, at 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-delivery, to collect data regarding family support, hospital and infant feeding practices, breastfeeding problems and pain, maternal perceptions and depression. Logistic regression and correlation were used to ascertain associations between support and EBF, adverse events and postpartum depression. Results: Neither professional nor family support predicted EBF at 12 weeks. Eighty-five percent of the mothers received high family support, which was associated with lower depression scores (r=-0.36, p=0.005); higher depression scores were associated with more breastfeeding problems. EBF discontinuation before 12 weeks was predicted by maternal perception of insufficient milk supply (OR=8.96, CI=1.78, 45.18). Earlier breastfeeding initiation (r=0.26, p=0.04) and skin-to-skin contact (r=0.25, p=0.048) were associated with lower breastfeeding pain. EBF in hospital was correlated with fewer breastfeeding problems (r=0.31, p=0.01). Conclusion: Mothers with greater family support suffered from less depressive symptoms, which could lower the incidence of breastfeeding problems and prolong EBF duration. Skin-to-skin contact, early breastfeeding initiation and EBF in hospital were associated with less adverse events, thus better compliance with these Baby-Friendly practices is recommended.