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Healthy infant feeding can help stem the staggering rise in childhood obesity, according to a Michigan State University nursing professor who will use a $1.5 million federal grant to start a new three-year infant feeding program.

Mildred Horodynski, RN, PhD, WHCNP, of MSU’s College of Nursing, will work with mothers of infants from birth to 4 months old to promote appropriate and responsible feeding style and practices, known as infant-centered feeding.

Her three-year project, “Healthy Babies Through Infant-Centered Feeding,” will take place in Michigan and Colorado and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“One of the key factors contributing to childhood obesity is poor feeding practices during infancy,” Horodynski says. “Because mothers are primarily responsible for infant feeding and have profound influences on growth patterns, they need support in learning how to appropriately feed their infants.”

More than 10 million U.S. children are overweight, according to federal health figures, which creates $117 billion in annual health-related costs. Many mothers, particularly those in low-income families, struggle when feeding infants by misinterpreting hunger and fullness cues. They often introduce solid foods and sweetened beverages too early.

As part of the project, mothers will receive six lessons over six weeks on healthy feeding practices by trained paraprofessionals. The lessons address maternal responsiveness, feeding styles, and feeding practices as infants transition to solid food.

“The long-term goal is to identify an intervention that can be translated statewide and beyond to improving the nation’s nutrition and health by promoting the development of healthy eating habits at an early age," Horodynski says.