Addition of supplementary foods and infant growth (2 to 24 months)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of adding supplementary foods on infant growth 2 to 8 and 12 to 24 months. METHODS: Length (cm/month) and weight (kg/month) of white infants (n = 94) were measured five to nine times from 2 to 24 months of age. Mothers reported birth weights, infants' ages at first introduction of supplementary food, illnesses and information sources about infant feeding. Simple linear regression equations were used to compute slopes for each child (unit changes in length and in weight by age). Stepwise linear regression was used to determine the effect on weight and length slopes by the introduction of supplementary foods (e.g., an infant's age when cereal, fruit, juice, vegetables and a meat cluster were first added) to the diet. Breast feeding (months duration or ever fed), illness scores and gender were covariates in the regression models. RESULTS: A significant model (F = 10.09, p = .002) for weight gain (2 to 8 months) showed that gender explained 10% of the variance; for length slope, the model was non-significant and gender explained 3% of the variance. Females had a slower weight gain compared to that of males. None of the covariates or supplementary foods were retained in the models. Weight prior to 12 months was the best predictor (p = .0001, 54% of the variance) of weight gain 12 to 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Unit changes in weight or length for an infant's age were not statistically associated with the timing of when supplementary foods were first added to the diet 2 to 8 or 12 to 24 months. Weight prior to 12 months was a significant predictor of weight gain 12 to 24 months.     

Patterns of growth in weight and length among American Samoan infants

Well baby clinic records on 1, 186 infants born in 1975 to 1976 on the island of Tutuila, American Samoa, form the basis for this study of the growth in weight and length from birth to 12 months. Semi‐longitudinal curves of weight and length indicate that these infants have median weights near the NCHS 75th percentile (boys) and 90th percentile (girls) up to 6 months, falling to just below the 75th percentile by 12 months. Median lengths are between the NCHS 50th and 25th percentile. Weight gain from birth to six months was found to be higher than for any other reported population (4.92 kg, sexes combined). The infant feeding pattern was found to exert a significant influence on rate of weight gain for boys between birth and 1–4 months, with the breast‐fed boys gaining more rapidly than artificial‐fed infants.     

Associations between Infant Feeding Practice Prior to Six Months and Body Mass Index at Six Years of Age

Rapid growth during infancy is associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity and differences in weight gain are at least partly explained by means of infant feeding. The aim was to assess the associations between infant feeding practice in early infancy and body mass index (BMI) at 6 years of age. Icelandic infants (n = 154) were prospectively followed from birth to 12 months and again at age 6 years. Birth weight and length were gathered from maternity wards, and healthcare centers provided the measurements made during infancy up to 18 months of age. Information on breastfeeding practices was documented 0–12 months and a 24-h dietary record was collected at 5 months. Changes in infant weight gain were calculated from birth to 18 months. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine associations between infant feeding practice at 5 months and body mass index (BMI) at 6 years. Infants who were formula-fed at 5 months of age grew faster, particularly between 2 and 6 months, compared to exclusively breastfed infants. At age 6 years, BMI was on average 1.1 kg/m² (95% CI 0.2, 2.0) higher among infants who were formula fed and also receiving solid foods at 5 months of age compared to those exclusively breastfed. In a high-income country such as Iceland, early introduction of solid foods seems to further increase the risk of high childhood BMI among formula fed infants compared with exclusively breastfed infants, although further studies with greater power are needed.     

Lactational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls,dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and infant growth: an analysis of the Pregnancy,Infection, and Nutrition Babies Study

Pan IJ, Daniels JL, Herring AH, Rogan WJ, Siega‐Riz AM, Goldman BD, Sjödin A. Lactational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and infant growth: an analysis of the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Babies Study. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2010; 24: 262–271. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), 2,2‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1,1‐trichloroethane (p,p’‐DDT) and 2,2‐bis(p‐chlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dichloroethylene (p,p’‐DDE), the most stable metabolite of p,p’‐DDT, are persistent organic pollutants and environmental endocrine disruptors. Infant exposure to these chemicals through breast feeding may influence children's growth, but this potential adverse effect could be complicated by the coexisting benefits of breast feeding. This study examined the associations between lactational exposure to these chemicals and infant growth in the first 12 months by using data from the Pregnancy, Infection and Nutrition Babies Study in central North Carolina, United States, 2004–06. The study population was restricted to the infants who were breast fed for 6 months or longer. PCBs, p,p’‐DDT and p,p’‐DDE were measured in breast milk at 3 months postpartum. Lactational exposure up to 12 months of age was estimated as the product of chemical concentrations and the duration of breast feeding. The infant's weight and length were recorded from the medical record for each routine paediatric well‐child visit in the first 12 months. Women–child pairs who breast fed for 6 months or longer and returned the growth card (n = 210) were included in the study. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess the associations between chemical concentrations in breast milk and longitudinal infant weight and length measurements in the first 6 months. Multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the relationships between lactational exposure to chemicals until 12 months of age and the z‐scores of infant weight, length and weight‐for‐length at 12 months. Overall, no association was observed. Breast feeding for 6 months or longer, with lactational exposure to PCBs, p,p’‐DDT and p,p’‐DDE at the low background level concentrations studied here, resulted in no measurable influence on infant growth in the first 12 months.     

Associations Between Dietary Energy Density in Mothers and Growth of Breastfeeding Infants During the First 4 Months of Life

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Despite the overwhelming impact of dietary energy density on the quality of the entire diet, no research has investigated dietary energy density among lactating mothers. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the influence of maternal dietary energy density during lactation on infant growth.

Method: Three hundred healthy lactating mother–infant pairs were enrolled in the study. Detailed demographic information and dietary intake data were collected from the lactating mothers. Anthropometric features such as infant weight, height, and head circumference at birth and 2 and 4 months and mother's pregnancy and postpartum weight and height were derived from health center records. Data on physical activity were reported using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, infant weight, length, weight-for-height, and head circumference at birth, 2 months, and 4 months did not show significant differences among four dietary energy density categories (all p values > 0.01).

Conclusions: Our study showed no association among quartiles of dietary energy density among lactating mothers and infant weight, length, weight-for-height, and head circumference growth by 2 and 4 months of age.     

Educational intervention to modify bottle-feeding behaviors among formula-feeding mothers in the WIC program: impact on infant formula intake and weight gain

ObjectiveFormula-fed infants gain weight faster than breastfed infants. This study evaluated whether encouraging formula-feeding caregivers to be sensitive to infant satiety cues would alter feeding practices and reduce infant formula intake and weight gain.DesignDouble-blind, randomized educational intervention, with intake and growth measured before (at 1 to 2 months) and after (4 to 5 months) the intervention.SettingWomen, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in Sacramento, California.Participants836 caregivers of young infants were screened; 214 were eligible, and 104 agreed to participate.InterventionIntervention subjects received education promoting awareness of satiety cues and discouraging bottles containing more than 6 ounces before 4 months of age; intervention and control groups received education regarding introduction and feeding of solid food after 4 months of age.Main Outcome MeasuresFormula intake (mL/24 hours) and weight gain (g/week).AnalysisDifferences between groups evaluated using 2-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).ResultsSixty-one subjects completed baseline records, 44 attended class, and 38 completed the study. Despite a positive response to the educational intervention, there was no change in bottle-feeding behaviors (formula intake at 4 to 5 months was more than 1100 mL/day in both groups). Infant growth in the intervention group was greater than in the control group (P < .01), contrary to the hypothesis.Conclusions and ImplicationsThe intervention improved knowledge of the key messages, but further research is needed to understand barriers to modifying bottle-feeding behaviors.     

Milk feeding and dietary patterns predict weight and fat gains in infancy

Current guidelines recommend that infants are exclusively breast fed for the first 6 months of life, with particular solid foods being gradually introduced from 6 months. Our objective was to compare the growth of infants whose feeding most closely followed current guidelines with the growth of infants with other feeding practices. Participants were 1740 infants in a prospective cohort study in Southampton, UK. At 6 and 12 months, infants’ milk feeding was recorded, diets assessed using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), and anthropometry performed. Principal components analysis was used to identify patterns of foods in the diet using the food intakes assessed by the FFQs. Two patterns (‘infant guidelines’ and ‘adult foods’) explained most variance in infant diet at 6 and 12 months of age. The main outcomes were conditional growth in weight, length and skinfold thickness from 0–6 and 6–12 months. Infants who were breast fed from 0–6 months gained weight, length and adiposity more slowly than formula‐fed infants, independent of age at introduction of solids and maternal factors: compared with infants who were breast fed from 0–6 months, formula‐fed infants gained 0.21 standard deviation scores (SDS) in weight [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00, 0.42]. Infants whose dietary pattern was most similar to current feeding guidelines, with high frequencies of fresh fruit and vegetables, home‐prepared foods and breast milk, gained weight and skinfold thickness more rapidly from 6 to 12 months than other infants, independent of milk feeding, age at introduction of solids and maternal factors. Compared with infants in the lowest quarter, infants in the highest ‘infant guidelines’ score quarter gained 0.24 SDS [95% CI 0.06, 0.43] in weight and 0.26 SDS [95% CI 0.07, 0.45] in skinfold thickness. Conversely, infants whose diets had the highest frequencies of breads and processed foods gained weight less rapidly from 6 to 12 months than other infants. The extent to which the patterns of diet and growth we have described will influence the current or later health of infants is unknown. We are following up the infants in this study to assess the impact of these patterns beyond the first year of life. These associations should also be examined in other settings and populations.     

婴儿期增重与5岁以下儿童单纯性肥胖的相关性研究

目的探讨婴儿期增重与5岁以下儿童单纯性肥胖的相关性。方法选取2006年至2011年在中山市博爱医院出生的6746例婴儿进行随访登记,统计相关数据,从中筛选出单纯性肥胖的567例儿童设为肥胖组,并按年龄、性别匹配原则1：1配对者设为对照组,进行父母文化程度、婴儿出生体重、喂养等方面的单因素分析,并进行影响儿童单纯性肥胖的多因素logistics回归分析。结果多因素logistics回归分析显示：与儿童单纯性肥胖显著相关的变量为婴儿出生时的体重（OR=1．94,95％CI=1．56,2．32）、婴儿期前6个月平均增重量（OR=2．17,95％CI=2．11,2．36）及婴儿期后6个月的平均增重量（OR=1．90,95％CI=1．61,2．19）,均P〈0．05。结论与儿童单纯性肥胖密切相关的影响因素为：婴儿出生时的体重、婴儿期前6个月及添加辅食后6个月的平均增重量。     

Feeding Behaviors and Other Motor Development in Healthy Children (2–24 Months)

Objectives: To monitor infant’s gross, fine and oral motor development patterns related to feeding.

Design: An incomplete block design was used with 57 to 60 (sample=98) mothers interviewed when their children were 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 and 24 months (within ± 5 days of birth date). Each mother had 5 to 6 interviews.

Setting: Selected developmental feeding behaviors were monitored using in-home interviews conducted by trained interviewers (n=2). At each interview, mothers reported the child’s age when behaviors first occurred, and anthropometric measurements were performed.

Subjects: Subjects were healthy white children who lived mostly in homes with educated two-parent families of upper socioeconomic status.

Results: Mean behavioral ages were within normal ranges reported in the literature, whereas individuals exhibited a wide diversity in reported ages. Examples of gross motor skills (age in months, ± SD) included sitting without help (5.50 ± 2.08) and crawling (8.00 ± 1.55). Mean ages for self-feeding fine motor skills showed children reaching for a spoon when hungry (5.47 ± 1.44), using fingers to rake food toward self (8.87 ± 2.58) and using fingers to self-feed soft foods (13.52 ± 2.83). Oral behaviors included children opening their mouth when food approached (4.46 ± 1.37), eating food with tiny lumps (8.70 ± 2.03) and chewing and swallowing firmer foods without choking (12.17 ± 2.28).

Conclusions: Mean ages for feeding behaviors occurred within expected age ranges associated with normal development. However, mothers reported that individual children exhibited a wide age range for achieving these behaviors. Our results should be considered in counseling mothers about infant feeding practices.     

Body composition in preterm infants fed standard term or enriched formula after hospital discharge

Summary. Background: Most preterm infants are still preterm and have a low birth weight when they are discharged from the hospital. An important issue is whether the long-term consequences of early growth restriction can be diminished by nutritional intervention in preterm infants after discharge from the hospital. Aim: To evaluate differences in growth and in weight gain composition of preterm infants fed standard term formula (SF) or enriched formula (PDF) after discharge from hospital during the first 2 months of life. Methods: Thirty-three healthy preterm infants, birth weight < 1750 g at gestational age < 35 weeks, were randomised to SF or PDF at the time of discharge from hospital. Anthropometric variables were studied longitudinally and body composition was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) twice, before hospital discharge and two months later. Weight gain composition was calculated as the difference between the two determinations. Results: Seventeen infants were fed SF and 16 PDF. Anthropometric variables and whole body composition were similar at birth, at the start of the nutritional study (mean age 45 days), and at the end of the study 2 months later. Over the whole study period, weight gain and weight gain composition were similar in the two groups. Sex did not appear to influence weight gain and weight gain composition. In infants with growth restriction at discharge there was a significant reduction of weight gain, fat mass gain, and bone mineral content deposition independently of the formula provided. Conclusions: There is no immediate effect on preterm infants of a nutrient enriched formula compared with a standard formula on growth, weight gain, or weight gain composition. Received: 12 February 2002, Accepted: 18 July 2002     

Weight gain rate in early childhood and overweight in children 5-11 years old in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

Overweight children are more prone to become overweight or obese adults. The most effective prevention is intervention in early childhood. We analyzed the association between early weight gain and overweight/obesity in 1,056 children under 11 years of age. Data were collected on lifestyle, sanitation, socioeconomic status, birth weight, and breastfeeding. Weight gain from birth until different age brackets (< 12, > 12 to 18, > 18 to 24, and > 24 to 60 months) was considered a continuous variable in z-scores. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) > +1 z-score, based on 2006 and 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Poisson regression and linear regression were used in the multivariate statistical analysis. Weight gain rate was associated with BMI, and overweight or obesity in the 5-11-year age bracket increased twofold for each unit increase in the weight gain standard deviation between 24 and 60 months of age (RR = 2.08; 95%CI: 1.87-2.32). For all early childhood age brackets, there was an association between rapid weight gain and subsequent overweight or obesity.     

辅食添加对婴幼儿贫血的影响

【目的】 本研究以健康婴幼儿为研究对象,研究不同时间添加辅食、添加不同种类辅食对婴幼儿贫血发生的影响。 【方法】 采用整群抽样的方法,选择北京顺义区3~18月龄婴幼儿143名,向其母亲询问婴儿基本状况、添加辅食时间和辅食种类等;采用氰化高铁血红蛋白方法测量其血红蛋白浓度。 【结果】 本研究发现该组儿童贫血发生率12个月前为30%左右,明显高于12个月后的10%左右 (P< 0.01)。不论男童还是女童, 6个月龄前或6个月龄后儿童,4个月前添加辅食均可以使贫血发生率下降(P< 0.05)。添加铁强化食物(如配方奶和营养素补充剂)可以使血红蛋白浓度升高(P< 0.05)。采用不同贫血诊断标准(97、105、110 g/L),贫血发生率差异仍存在统计学意义 (P< 0.01)。 【结论】 12个月龄前儿童贫血发生率明显高于12个月龄后儿童。虽然4个月前添加铁强化辅食使得铁营养状况得到改善,但适宜的辅食添加时间有待进一步研究。     

Influence of chronic ethanol consumption on the metabolism and action of vitamin D.

Objective: Moderate weight loss alters bone turnover and reduces bone mineral density in overweight men and women. However, it is not known whether bone turnover is normalized during weight maintenance postweight loss. Thus, the objective of the present study was to examine changes in serum bone turnover markers during 9 months of weight maintenance following weight reduction on a very low-energy diet (VLED) in obese men and women.

Methods: Thirty-seven men (n = 13) and women (n = 24) aged 50 ± 9.8 years underwent 3 months of weight reduction on a VLED (～500 kcal/d) followed by 9 months on either a low-carbohydrate or low-fat weight maintenance diet (～1600 kcal/d). Concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal peptide of type I collagen (CTX) in serum were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and at months 3, 6, and 12. Serum parathyroid (PTH) concentrations were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay at all 4 time points. Data were analyzed using a 3-factor-repeated measures analysis of variance.

Results: Average weight loss was 19% ± 3% and, during the 9-month weight maintenance period, average weight gain was ～3%, with no differences due to diet composition. Serum concentrations of OC and CTX significantly increased after weight reduction and remained elevated during weight maintenance. Serum PTH was reduced after weight loss. Percent changes in OC and CTX were correlated during weight maintenance (r = ?0.437, p = 0.008), but not during weight loss. Percent changes in CTX and body weight were negatively correlated during weight loss (r = ?0.474, p = 0.003) and maintenance (r = ?0.455, p = 0.006).

Conclusions: Weight loss induced via a VLED may result in an imbalance between bone formation and resorption and accelerate remodeling. The deleterious effect of energy restriction on bone remodeling rate appears to persist during weight maintenance.     

Nutritional transition during infancy in East Java, Indonesia: 2. A longitudinal study of growth in relation to the intake of breast milk and additional foods

Weight and length of infants, born in two villages in Madura, East Java were measured longitudinally from birth to 12 months (n = 391). In a sub-sample (n = 76) the intake of breast milk and additional foods during 48 h were also measured. The shape of the weight curve of Madurese infants is comparable to that of healthy, exclusively breast-fed infants in the UK and US during the first 6 months of life, in spite of the custom to force-feed from as early as the first week. The use of a more 'appropriate' growth curve of exclusively breast-fed, healthy infants instead of the NCHS reference failed to define more accurately the age at which growth faltering starts. It is recommended to use weight increments as an indicator of the onset of growth faltering. Breast milk intake correlated significantly with attained weight. However, it explains only a small percentage of the variation in weight, viz. 12-24 per cent. There was no correlation between energy or protein intake from breast milk and additional foods and weight gain.     

Effect of a Multi-Site Trial using Short Message Service (SMS) on Infant Feeding Practices and Weight Gain in Low-Income Minorities

Objective: To test the effects of weekly SMS for improving infant feeding practices and infant weight.

Methods: This was a multi-site randomized clinical trial in a convenience sample of 202 caregivers of healthy term infants 0–2 months participating in the WIC program in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Participants were randomized to receive SMS about infant's general health issues (control) or SMS for improving feeding practices (intervention) for four months. Weight, length and infant feeding practices were assessed at baseline and four months later.

Results: A total of 170 participants completed the study (n = 86 control and n = 84 intervention). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At the end, exclusive breastfeeding rates were similar between groups (67.4% control and 59.1% intervention). Introduction of other foods and beverages, addition of foods to the bottle, placing infants to sleep with milk bottles, caregiver's method and response to feeding infants and distractions while feeding infants were similar between groups. Also, weight status or rate of weight gain was similar between groups.

Conclusion: There were no significant improvements in feeding practices or in weight with the intervention. The timeline of the messages in relation to the targeted behavior may have affected the effectiveness of the intervention. Earlier dissemination of messages, higher level of intensity, longer intervention, additional contacts and inclusion of other caregivers may be needed to achieve the desired effects.     

Infant feeding practices of Pakistani mothers in England and Pakistan

Objectives To investigate infant feeding practices followed by Pakistani mothers in Pakistan and in England. To establish if practices conform to current guidelines and to investigate reasons for adherence and nonadherence. Methods Ninety mothers of weaning age children were interviewed; 45 were in England and 45 in Pakistan. A questionnaire available in English and Urdu sought to find out about the methods of milk feeding and weaning used and the advice received, together with general beliefs about weaning. Results Characteristics of the infants in terms of current age, gender distribution, birth order of baby and age of weaning showed no significant differences between the two groups. Thus, differences between the two groups could be attributed to cultural differences rather than any of these factors. Chi‐square analysis showed that the initial method of feeding chosen was significantly different (P < 0.001, d.f. = 2) with 73% of mothers in Pakistan breast‐feeding compared with 24% in England. Similar proportions of mothers in both groups commenced weaning between 3 and 4 months. Common weaning foods included rice, cereals and eggs with progression to fruit and vegetables and family food in Pakistan, and fruit, vegetables, meat and convenience foods (especially sweet options) in England. Both groups of mothers wanted more information about infant feeding practices. Conclusion Mothers in Pakistan demonstrated more confidence in weaning practices than in England because of experiences with other siblings and advice from relatives. More advice from health professionals was requested and is needed by all mothers in order to improve weaning practices of the infants.     

Pregnancy-Associated Obesity in Black Women in New York City

Objective: To determine weight gain during pregnancy and weight changes postpartum in first-time mothers delivering at or near term. Methods: At about 2 weeks after delivery, 47 adult, Black and Hispanic women provided information on their prepregnancy weight and height and maximum pregnancy weight. Women reinterviewed at 2 and 6 months after delivery reported their most recent weight measurement and the date of that measurement. This information was used to compute each woman's prepregnancy body mass index, pregnancy weight gain, and weight loss postpartum. Information on infant feeding was also collected at each postpartum visit. Results: About 2/3 of the women and 100% of the overweight and obese women gained excessive weight during pregnancy. Weight gain was most marked in women who started pregnancy overweight or obese. At 2 months postpartum, women were on average almost 18 lb above their prepregnancy weight. No additional maternal weight was lost by 6 months postpartum. Most infants were started on formula by 2 weeks of age. At 2 months of age, 85% were fed formula only and 91% of the infants were on WIC. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a need for interventions to help women avoid obesity by regulating their pregnancy weight gain, losing weight for a longer period postpartum, and initiating and maintaining exclusive breast-feeding.     

Dietary and clinical impacts of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

Background: Nutrition during pregnancy is important for the health of both mother and infant. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) may alter food intake but the dietary and clinical consequences of NVP are poorly understood. The present study aimed to identify the differences in dietary intakes and clinical characteristics of women with NVP compared with those without. Methods: Women with (n = 134) or without (n = 53) NVP were studied in each trimester of pregnancy. The babies were studied at birth, and at 1 and 6 months. The presence of nausea and vomiting was established by interviews using standard questions. Daily intakes of foods and nutrients were assessed from 3‐day food diaries. Weight gain during pregnancy and weights and lengths of the infants at birth and at 1 and 6 months of age were recorded. Results: In the first trimester, intake of meat products and thus protein in women with NVP was lower both quantitatively (P = 0.007) and as a proportion of energy (16.4E% [interquartile range (IQR) 14.9–18.4]) compared to non‐NVP [18.3E% (IQR 16.3–19.8), P = 0.003]. The proportional intakes of carbohydrates were higher in NVP subjects [50.1E% (IQR 46.7–53.6)] than in non‐NVP [46.8E% (IQR 43.6–51.9), P = 0.008]. Dietary and total intakes of vitamin B₁₂, total intake of magnesium and dietary intake of zinc were lower in women with NVP. Changes in diet remained throughout pregnancy. Women with NVP had shorter pregnancies [39.9 (95% CI 39.6–40.1)] compared with those without [40.4 (95% CI 40.1–40.8) weeks, P = 0.018], but neither pregnancy weight gain nor infants’ weight and length differed. Conclusions: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy modified dietary intake and has potential clinical impacts as suggested by the altered pregnancy duration. In view of the programming effect of early nutrition, these alterations may carry long‐term health consequences.     

The relationship between maternal depression and adverse infant health outcomes in Zambia: a cross‐sectional feasibility study

Background Post‐partum depression affects many new mothers. In the developing world, there may be an association between post‐partum depression and adverse mortality‐related infant health. Such associations have been found in South Asia; however, findings are inconsistent in Africa. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of such research in rural Zambia, and investigate associations between maternal depression and adverse infant health outcomes. Methods A cross‐sectional study was undertaken in a rural district of Zambia. Consecutive women with infants between 2 and 12 months were recruited from under five clinics in three locations. Depression was assessed using the Self‐reporting Questionnaire. Outcomes of infant size (actual weight and length, and as ≤5th percentile) and infant health (serious illness, diarrhoeal episodes, incomplete vaccination) were obtained. Relative risk, step‐wise logistic regression and linear regression were used to analyse the data. Results Two hundred seventy‐eight of 286 women agreed to take part (97.1%). The proportion with a high risk of depression was 9.7%. Adverse infant health outcomes were all proportionally greater in infants of ‘depressed’ mothers, and the associations with adjusted mean difference in weight (0.58 kg, CI 0.09–1.08) and length (1.95 cm, CI 0.49–3.50) were statistically significant. Other independent associations with episodes of diarrhoea (maternal education, older infant age, supplementary feeding) and incomplete vaccination (location, older infant age) were identified. Conclusion It is feasible to conduct a study on this subject in a rural area of Zambia. The results show that reduced infant weight and length were significantly associated with maternal ‘depression’. Other adverse outcomes may be and need investigating in an appropriately powered study.