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Children
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Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition (2nd Edition)
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Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition (2nd Edition)

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2025) | Viewed by 2096

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Elena Capra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Pediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
Interests: lipid metabolism; cardiovascular disease prevention; nutrition; childhood metabolic diseases; feeding disorders and nutrition in inborn errors of metabolism; nutrition in premature babies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giacomo Biasucci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Pediatrics and Neonatology Unit, Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital, 29121 Piacenza, Italy
2. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
Interests: infant and pediatric nutrition; inborn errors of metabolism; feeding and eating disorders of childhood; pediatric dyslipidemia; pediatric gut microbiota; pediatric food allergy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nutrition is an important factor in the development of infants and children, especially in critical developmental stages such as breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Furthermore, it is an epigenetic factor that can modify the natural history of numerous non-communicable diseases. Moreover, nutrition in critical development stages can also facilitate taste development and food-related behavior.

Considering the success and popularity of the Special Issue "Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition", previously published in the journal Children (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/children/special_issues/QP4482RGJ5), we are now set to release a second Special Issue that aims to address this topic by inviting scholars to share their findings, perspectives, and approaches, with the aim of addressing nutritional issues in infancy and early childhood. Qualitative or quantitative contributions from basic or applied research that will advance the knowledge on key topics within this field are welcomed.

Dr. Maria Elena Capra
Dr. Giacomo Biasucci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutrition
  • infancy
  • early childhood
  • prevention
  • breastfeeding
  • complementary feeding

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 367 KB  
Article
Mindful Parenting and Picky Eating Behaviors in Early Childhood: Parental Dietary Competence as a Mediator
by Jo-Lin Chen, Su-Ping Chen, Jia-Yau Doong and Shou-Chi Huang
Children 2025, 12(12), 1629; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12121629 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 281
Abstract
Background: Picky eating behaviors among children challenge nutritional intake and healthy development and place considerable stress on parents. Parenting approaches play a critical role in shaping young children’s dietary behaviors. Mindful parenting, which refers to parents responding to their child’s needs with awareness, [...] Read more.
Background: Picky eating behaviors among children challenge nutritional intake and healthy development and place considerable stress on parents. Parenting approaches play a critical role in shaping young children’s dietary behaviors. Mindful parenting, which refers to parents responding to their child’s needs with awareness, acceptance, attention, and mindful discipline, has gained increasing attention. Parental dietary competence may determine whether mindful parenting effectively discourages picky eating behavior in children. Objectives: This study explored whether mindful parenting and parental dietary competence are associated with picky eating behaviors in young children. The mediating role of parental dietary competence in this association was also investigated. Methods: A total of 412 parents of children enrolled in six preschools across six administrative districts in New Taipei City, Taipei City, and Taoyuan City, Taiwan, were invited and recruited. Data were collected using three validated parent-reported instruments, including a mindful parenting scale, parental dietary competence scale, and children’s picky eating behaviors scale. Results: Mindful parenting influenced children’s picky eating behaviors through the full mediation of parental dietary competence. The identification of parental dietary competence as a mediator underscores the need for early preventive interventions and parenting education that integrate parental mindfulness and dietary competence to foster healthy eating habits from the outset of early childhood. Conclusions: Practical recommendations and future research directions are provided regarding mindful parenting, parental dietary competence, and picky eating behaviors in young children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 1082 KB  
Article
Longitudinal Association of Maternity Care Practices with Exclusive Breastfeeding in U.S. Hospitals, 2018–2022
by Lucas Gosdin, Kristin J. Marks, O. Yaw Addo, Lauren O’Connor, Sofia Awan, Daurice A. Grossniklaus and Heather C. Hamner
Children 2025, 12(11), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12111454 - 26 Oct 2025
Viewed by 546
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding has health benefits for infants and mothers, and hospitals play an important role in supporting breastfeeding. This analysis examines the longitudinal association of hospital maternity care practices and policies with in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates from 2018 to 2022. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Breastfeeding has health benefits for infants and mothers, and hospitals play an important role in supporting breastfeeding. This analysis examines the longitudinal association of hospital maternity care practices and policies with in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates from 2018 to 2022. Methods: U.S. hospitals completing ≥2 surveys during 2018, 2020, and 2022 cycles of CDC’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) survey comprised a nested longitudinal cohort (n = 2109). Hospitals were given a modified mPINC score (0 to 100 points) based on self-reported adherence to maternity care practices and policies supportive of breastfeeding, including skin-to-skin contact, monitoring following birth, rooming-in, feeding counseling and education, and institutional policies. Hospitals reported their exclusive breastfeeding rates for healthy infants for the duration of hospitalization. A path analysis quantified the total effects of modified mPINC scores on in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates in subsequent survey cycles, controlling for annual births. Results: Among hospitals with the highest modified mPINC scores of 100 points, the mean in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates were 62.0% in 2018 (n = 129), 62.2% in 2020 (n = 132), and 61.7% in 2022 (n = 138). Hospitals with the lowest scores of <60 points had exclusive breastfeeding rates of 40.6% (n = 247), 41.9% (n = 173), and 37.8% (n = 127), respectively. Hospitals that increased their modified mPINC score by 10 points from 2018 to 2022, regardless of their score in 2018, had a 2.0 p.p. increase in their exclusive breastfeeding rates. In an adjusted path analysis, each 10-point higher modified mPINC score in 2018 was associated with a 4.4 (95% CI, 4.0–4.9) percentage point higher exclusive breastfeeding rate in 2022—through increasing the likelihood of higher in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding rates in 2018 and 2020 and higher modified mPINC scores in 2020 and 2022. Conclusions: Improving and sustaining maternity care practices and policies supportive of breastfeeding are associated with higher in-hospital exclusive breastfeeding over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 1906 KB  
Article
Dietary Patterns and Feeding Behavior of Infants in Croatia: Findings from the National Food Consumption Survey on Infants and Children
by Ana Ilić, Ivana Rumbak, Martina Pavlić, Nataša Šarlija, Lidija Šoher, Daniela Čačić Kenjerić, Jasna Pucarin-Cvetković and Darja Sokolić
Children 2025, 12(9), 1125; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12091125 - 26 Aug 2025
Viewed by 930
Abstract
Background/Objectives: To prevent nutritional depletion and impaired weight status in infants, targeted public health policies and prevention programs based on scientific evidence are needed. This study provides an overview of the dietary patterns and feeding behavior of infants in Croatia as part [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: To prevent nutritional depletion and impaired weight status in infants, targeted public health policies and prevention programs based on scientific evidence are needed. This study provides an overview of the dietary patterns and feeding behavior of infants in Croatia as part of the National Food Consumption Survey on Infants and Children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted following the EU Menu methodology and included 322 healthy infants (54% boys; aged 3 months up to 12 months) from Croatia. Two-day dietary records were collected and analyzed using NutriCro 2.0 software. Results: The daily energy intake of infants was on average 886 ± 219 kcal, mainly from carbohydrates (47.0%), followed by fat (41.6%) and protein (9.9%). The main sources of energy and macronutrients were milk and dairy products, grains, grain products, potatoes and tubers and the fruit food group. One third of infants were breastfed, and more than 70% of infants were introduced to complementary foods. Parents started complementary feeding at the age of 5.37 ± 0.82 months, mostly with vegetables. Breastfeeding was associated with higher energy intake, especially in infants younger than 6 months, while formula feeding was associated with lower energy intake. The multivariate regression models showed age-related interactions that attenuated the patterns for energy and macronutrient intake. Conclusions: The study emphasizes that milk and dairy products are the main source of energy and macronutrients. The study highlights the important role of breastfeeding in promoting higher energy intake in early infancy and the decreasing effect of infant formula consumption with age. These results can be used as a basis for health policies, programs and strategies that address infant feeding habits in Croatia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infant and Early Childhood Nutrition (2nd Edition))
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