Rapid weight gain (RWG) during infancy is a known risk factor for obesity in the childhood years. Little is known about how healthcare practitioners approach this topic when working with whānau (families) and guidelines to support them in this process are currently lacking (1). The aim of this work was to determine if, and how, Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand identify RWG in infants, and their opinions on health- and growth-related topics which could be discussed with the whānau of infants with RWG. A questionnaire was developed and emailed to practitioners working in the WCTO setting. Results were summarised descriptively. One hundred and sixty-four practitioners (88% nurses; 19% Māori, 7% Pacific) completed the questionnaire. Almost all (93%) looked for a trend of RWG after measuring infants, and 75% identified this by the upwards crossing of centile lines on growth charts. When RWG was identified in an infant, 82% of practitioners were likely to discuss it with the infant’s whānau. Practitioners generally agreed that potential topics for discussion included breastfeeding, formula and complementary feeding, sleep, responsive parenting, and education about growth charts/growth monitoring. A majority of WCTO practitioners (82%) indicated that they would benefit from professional development opportunities on the topic of RWG during infancy. Over two-thirds (70%) said that if an electronic support tool (such as a mobile app) to assist with the identification and care of infants with RWG became available in Aotearoa, they would be likely to use it when working with the whānau of infants.
The study found that most WCTO practitioners in Aotearoa New Zealand are aware of RWG as a potentially concerning growth pattern during infancy and they were willing to discuss it with whānau. Opportunities for professional development on this topic would be appreciated by most practitioners.