Baby-led complementary feeding: Randomized controlled study
- PMID: 30074671
- DOI: 10.1111/ped.13671
Baby-led complementary feeding: Randomized controlled study
Abstract
Background: Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an approach to introducing solid foods to infants that gives control of the feeding process to the infant. Anecdotal evidence suggests that BLW is becoming popular with parents, but scientific research is limited to a few publications. This study assessed growth, hematological parameters and iron intake in 6-12-month-old infants fed by traditional or baby-led complementary feeding.
Methods: We recruited 280 healthy 5-6-month-old infants allocated to a control (traditional spoon feeding; TSF) group or an intervention (BLW) group in a randomized controlled trial. Infant growth, hematologic parameters and iron intake were evaluated at age 12 months.
Results: Infants in the TSF were significantly heavier than those in the BLW group. Mean weight in the BLW group was 10.4 ± 0.9 kg compared with 11.1 ± 0.5 kg in the TSF group. There was no statistically significant difference in the iron intake from complementary foods between the BLW (7.97 ± 1.37 mg/day) and TSF (7.90 ± 1.68 mg/day) participants who completed the diet records. Hematologic parameters were similar at 12 months. The incidence of choking reported in the weekly interviews was not different between the groups.
Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first randomized -controlled study to have examined the impact of weaning method on iron intake, hematological parameters and growth in breast-fed infants. BLW can be an alternative complementary feeding type without increasing the risk of iron deficiency, choking or growth impairment.
Keywords: baby-led feeding; choking; complementary feeding; infant weight; iron intake.
© 2018 Japan Pediatric Society.
Similar articles
-
Complementary Feeding Methods-A Review of the Benefits and Risks.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 4;18(13):7165. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18137165. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021. PMID: 34281101 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Food fussiness and early feeding characteristics of infants following Baby-Led Weaning and traditional spoon-feeding in New Zealand: An internet survey.Appetite. 2018 Nov 1;130:110-116. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2018.07.033. Epub 2018 Aug 2. Appetite. 2018. PMID: 30077730
-
No difference in self-reported frequency of choking between infants introduced to solid foods using a baby-led weaning or traditional spoon-feeding approach.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018 Aug;31(4):496-504. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12528. Epub 2017 Dec 5. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018. PMID: 29205569
-
How different are baby-led weaning and conventional complementary feeding? A cross-sectional study of infants aged 6-8 months.BMJ Open. 2016 May 6;6(5):e010665. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010665. BMJ Open. 2016. PMID: 27154478 Free PMC article.
-
How feasible is Baby-led Weaning as an approach to infant feeding? A review of the evidence.Nutrients. 2012 Nov 2;4(11):1575-609. doi: 10.3390/nu4111575. Nutrients. 2012. PMID: 23201835 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Baby Food Pouches, Baby-Led Weaning, and Iron Status in New Zealand Infants: An Observational Study.Nutrients. 2024 May 15;16(10):1494. doi: 10.3390/nu16101494. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38794732 Free PMC article.
-
Late Preterm Newborns: Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Practices.Children (Basel). 2024 Mar 28;11(4):401. doi: 10.3390/children11040401. Children (Basel). 2024. PMID: 38671618 Free PMC article.
-
Complementary Feeding: Tradition, Innovation and Pitfalls.Nutrients. 2024 Mar 4;16(5):737. doi: 10.3390/nu16050737. Nutrients. 2024. PMID: 38474864 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Complementary Feeding Methods, Feeding Problems, Food Neophobia, and Picky Eating among Polish Children.Children (Basel). 2023 Dec 29;11(1):45. doi: 10.3390/children11010045. Children (Basel). 2023. PMID: 38255359 Free PMC article.
-
Estimated energy and nutrient intake in complementary feeding methods in Brazilian infants: randomized clinical trial.Sci Rep. 2024 Jan 2;14(1):13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-50415-7. Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 38168148 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical