The effect of day care attendance on infant and toddler's growth

Pnina Zmiri, Lisa Rubin, Hanna Akons, Nataly Zion, Ron Shaoul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to study the association between day care attendance and changes in the height, weight and weight/height ratio over a 6-month period. Methods: Data were retrieved from three maternal and child health care centres. Parents were asked to fill a short questionnaire regarding the infant/toddler life style, the day care facilities and the family demographic information. Results: One hundred and seventy infants participated in the study. The research group consisted of 85 infants that had placed in day care centre prior to the age of 18 months. The control group consisted of 85 infants who had placed in day care at a later age. The research group had significantly shorter stature 3 months after day care enrolment (mean height percentiles of 56.9 versus 66.3, respectively, p = 0.024,). This trend was more pronounced after 6 months (mean height percentiles of 52.3 versus 63.7, p = 0.022). We could not, however, demonstrate a concomitant significant deceleration in weight or weight/height percentiles. Conclusions: The explanation for this rather dramatic finding remains speculative. Possible mechanisms are stress-related growth hormone suppression. Our findings reinforce the importance of monitoring infant/toddler weight and height growth velocities, especially when he/she is introduced to day care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-270
Number of pages5
JournalActa Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
Volume100
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Day care
  • Growth
  • Growth curves
  • Growth hormone
  • Infants
  • Morbidity
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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