Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Infant Growth

Infant growth is the measurable increase in body size and the accompanying physiological maturation that occur during infancy, conventionally tracked through weight, length, and head circumference and interpreted against standardised growth references. It is a sensitive indicator of overall health and nutritional ad…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 6 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 70× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2644-0105 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Infant growth is the measurable increase in body size and the accompanying physiological maturation that occur during infancy, conventionally tracked through weight, length, and head circumference and interpreted against standardised growth references. It is a sensitive indicator of overall health and nutritional adequacy, since adequate gains depend on appropriate energy and nutrient intake, effective feeding, and the absence of significant illness. Nutrition in early life is a central determinant: breastfeeding supplies a biologically tailored mix of macronutrients, bioactive factors, and hormones that support growth and development, and the composition and handling of breast milk, including storage practices that affect macronutrient integrity, can influence the nutrients an infant actually receives. Feeding behaviour is further shaped by maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices and by social, religious, and cultural context, all of which affect the initiation and continuation of optimal feeding. Micronutrient sufficiency also matters, as deficiencies such as inadequate vitamin A can produce clinical consequences alongside impaired development. Routine growth monitoring at health facilities, increasingly supported by task-shifting to caregivers and frontline workers, enables early detection of faltering or excessive weight gain so that timely intervention can be provided. Adequate and well-monitored infant growth lays the foundation for later physical health, cognitive development, and long-term wellbeing.

Research published in this journal

6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 6 articles above have been cited 70 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Infant Growth, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Breastfeeding Biology (ISSN 2644-0105).

Journal editorial board
Gail Christopher · United States Ann Anderson Berry · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.