Abstract
Complementary feeding methods have the potential to not only ensure a diet of nutritional adequacy but also promote optimal food-related behaviours and skills. While the complementary feeding practice known as baby-led weaning (BLW) has gained popularity, evidence supporting the potential benefits and/or risks for infant growth, development, and health warrants consideration. A review of 29 studies was conducted with findings indicating that parents who implement BLW typically have higher levels of education, breastfeed for longer, and differ in other personality traits. Fear of choking was an important factor in parents’ decision not to implement BLW; however, this fear was not supported by the literature. Benefits of BLW included lower food fussiness, higher food enjoyment, lower food responsiveness, and higher satiety responsiveness. While this profile of eating behaviours confers a reduced obesity risk, few studies have examined the relationship between BLW and infant growth robustly. BLW does not seem to increase the risk of inadequate zinc or iron intake; however, emphasis needs to be given to ensuring adequate intake of these micronutrients among all infants. A better understanding of the impacts of BLW is needed to inform evidence-based recommendations to support and guide parents in complementary feeding methods.
Highlights
Health 2021, 18, 7165. https://During the first year of life, infants progress from an all-milk diet to one that includes nonmilk foods
The results reported by Brown et al (2011a) showed no association between complementary feeding method and infant weight at 6 or 12 months of age (n = 604), these findings were too based on parent-reported infant weight and height [21]
Based on the evidence available, the literature suggests that baby-led weaning (BLW) may reduce infant food fussiness and increase satiety responsiveness; these results are far from conclusive
Summary
During the first year of life, infants progress from an all-milk diet to one that includes nonmilk foods This transition intends to support the changing nutritional requirements of infants, with implications for long- and short-term growth, development, and health [1]. Complementary feeding should lead to the consumption of a variety of foods that meet nutritional requirements, while supporting the acquisition of optimal food-related behaviours, skills, and attitudes. In achieving this, both what and how infants are fed are of importance as integral aspects of an infant’s interpersonal food environment. These interpersonal interactions are significant constructs of the food environment for infants, who rely exclusively on such interactions for the procurement of food and the facilitation of eating occasions [2,3,4,5]
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