A New Look to Complementary Feeding: Baby-led Weaning Approach

This review compares the relative effects of Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) and traditional complementary feeding on infant nutrition and development. The available evidence indicates that infants in who fed by BLW have higher intakes of saturated and total fats, although energy intake does not differ significantly between the two feeding groups. The risk of choking is not unique to either feeding practice and simply reinforces the need for parents to supervise mealtime. There is a greater risk of iron deficiency with BLW because of the generally lower iron content of typical BLW foods, but some studies report no differences in iron intake between infant feeding groups. With regard to obesity, BLW does not lead to greater increases in weight, but findings are inconsistent across studies. Furthermore, BLW is related to healthier eating behavior, such as a slower pace of eating and reduced picky eating, which may help promote positive long-term dietary habits. From a sociocultural perspective, BLW is adopted by those with higher parental education and longer breastfeeding duration. This review emphasizes that further investigation should be done to explain the long-term health outcomes of BLW and also explain how sociocultural factors shape feeding practices.