Release: November 20, 2024
The population covered by the study consists of children born between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021 to mothers living in Québec. The first data collection took place from May 2021 to March 2022 among 4,703 families when the babies were about 5 months old. These children are being followed in this longitudinal study until they reach adulthood.
Growing up in Québec is the second edition of the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD 2). The first edition of the study (QLSCD 1) has been following a cohort of children born in Québec in 1997–1998 for more than 25 years.
Infant health at about 5 months
Approximately 9 in 10 babies were considered to be in excellent (71%) or in very good health (21%) by their parents.
Parent’s perception of their baby’s health1
Children aged about 5 months, Québec, 2021–2022
Notes
* Coefficient of variation between 15% and 25%; interpret with caution.
1. Based on the perception of the main survey respondent. In the majority of cases (96.8%), this was the child’s biological mother.
Source
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, 2nd edition, 2021–2022.
1 in 10 babies did not have a family doctor or paediatrician
Half of babies (49%) saw a doctor for a health problem or illness after their birth.
Number of times babies saw a doctor for a health problem or illness after birth
Children aged about 5 months, Québec, 2021–2022
Source
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, 2nd edition, 2021–2022.
Most babies (86%) did not take any antibiotics between their birth and the survey; about 12% had one course of antibiotics; 1.5% had two; and 0.8% had three or more.
6 in 10 babies (61%) underwent a hearing screening between their birth and the survey.
Infant feeding and diet
Breastfeeding
The mothers of a vast majority of babies (88%) intended to breastfeed before their child was born.
The mothers of 87% of babies intended to breastfeed exclusively, meaning feeding their baby only breast milk without combining it with any other types of solid foods or liquids.
The proportion of breastfed babies decreases as they age. The breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first 4 months of life are 66% and 29%, respectively.
Proportion of breastfed and exclusively breastfed babies in the first months of life
Children aged about 5 months, Québec, 2021–2022
Source
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, 2nd edition, 2021–2022.
The mothers of about 82% of babies who were fed breast milk consulted at least one type of health care professional or breastfeeding coach for information, advice or support with breastfeeding.
Introduction of other foods
About 6% of babies started eating cereals before the age of 4 months.
A very small proportion of babies (about 1% or less) were fed other solid foods (such as fruit, vegetables or meat) or other liquids (such as cow’s milk or juice) before the age of 4 months.
The vast majority of babies (95%) were given vitamin D supplements at some point after their birth.
Infant sleep at about 5 months
Three quarters of babies (75%) sleep for a total of 12 to 16 hours a day, as recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society.
About half of babies (49%) aged at least 5 months at the time of the survey were sleeping through the night, meaning they were sleeping at least six hours straight at night.
Duration of uninterrupted nighttime sleep in babies
Children aged at least 5 months at the time of the survey1, Québec, 2021–2022
Note
1. About 90% of babies were aged at least 5 months.
Source
Institut de la statistique du Québec, Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, 2nd edition, 2021–2022.
In the month before the survey, about 13% of babies aged at least 5 months never woke up at night; 52% woke up once or twice; and 35% woke up three times or more.
The parents of about 62% of babies perceived their child’s nighttime awakenings as not at all problematic, while 33% considered them as slightly problematic, and 5% of them as very problematic.
Most babies (68%) take three or more naps a day; about 3 in 10 (29%) take two naps; 2.1% take one nap; and just 0.4% of babies do not nap at all.
Changes in infant health and diet
Growing Up in Québec is the second edition of the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD 2). The first edition of the study (QLSCD 1) has been following a cohort of children born in Québec in 1997–1998. How has the health and diet of babies changed between the two editions of the study?
What has improved
Babies born in 2020–2021 are more likely than those born in 1997–1998 to:
- Have been fed breast milk at least once (91% vs. 72%).
- Have been exclusively breastfed during the first 3 months (33% vs. 18%) and the first 4 months (29% vs. 6%) of their life.
- Have been breastfed during their first week of life (85% vs. 67%), the first month (80% vs. 60%), the first 2 months (75% vs. 53%), the first 3 months (70% vs. 47%), and the first 4 months (66% vs. 41%) of their life.
They were also less likely to:
- Have been fed other foods or liquids early, meaning before the age of 4 months: cereals (6% vs. 58%), vegetables (1.1% vs. 26%), fruit (1.1% vs. 19%), or fruit juice (0,6% vs. 11%).
Some setbacks
Babies born in 2020–2021 are less likely than babies born in 1997–1998 to:
- Be considered as being in excellent health by their biological mother at about 5 months of age (72% vs. 76%).
- Have been exclusively breastfed during their first week of life (47% vs. 56%).
Going further
For detailed results, read the report La santé, l’alimentation et le sommeil des bébés (PDF, 4,24 Mo) (in French only).
