Abstract/Summary

Objective: To compare food and nutrient intake of infants aged 6-12 months following a baby-led complementary feeding (BLCF) approach to infants who followed a standard weaning (SW) approach. Design: Participants completed an online questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic questions, a 28-day food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a sample of participants completed a 24-hour dietary recall. Setting: UK. Participants: 134 infants aged 6-12 months (n=88, BLCF; n=46, SW). Results: There was no difference between weaning method and food groups for “fruits”, “vegetables”, “all fish”, “meat and fish”, “sugary” or “starchy” foods. The SW group were offered “fortified infant cereal” (p<.001), “salty snacks” at 6-8 months (p=.03), “dairy and dairy based desserts” at 9-12 months (p=.04) and pre-prepared infant food at all ages (p<.001) more often that the BLCF group. The SW group were offered “oily fish” at all ages (p<.001) and 6-8 months (p=.01), and “processed meats” at all ages (p<.001), 6-8 months (p=.003), and 9-12 months (p<.001) less often than the BLCF group. In the BLCF group there was a significantly greater intake of sodium (p=.028) and fat from food (p=.035), and a significantly lower intake of iron from milk (p=.012) and free sugar in the 6-8 month subgroup (p=.03) compared to the SW group. Iron intake was below the RNI for both groups and sodium was above the RNI in the BLCF group. Conclusion: Compared to the SW group the BLCF group were offered foods higher in sodium and lower in iron, however the foods offered contained less free sugar.