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Current Nutrition Reports
Published in: Current Nutrition Reports 2/2017

Open Access 01-06-2017 | Food Acceptance and Nutrition in Infants and Young Children (H Coulthard, Section Editor)

Baby-Led Weaning: The Evidence to Date

Authors: Amy Brown, Sara Wyn Jones, Hannah Rowan

Published in: Current Nutrition Reports | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Infants are traditionally introduced to solid foods using spoon-feeding of specially prepared infant foods.

Recent Findings

However, over the last 10–15 years, an alternative approach termed ‘baby-led weaning’ has grown in popularity. This approach involves allowing infants to self-feed family foods, encouraging the infant to set the pace and intake of the meal. Proponents of the approach believe it promotes healthy eating behaviour and weight gain trajectories, and evidence is starting to build surrounding the method. This review brings together all empirical evidence to date examining behaviours associated with the approach, its outcomes and confounding factors.

Summary

Overall, although there is limited evidence suggesting that a baby-led approach may encourage positive outcomes, limitations of the data leave these conclusions weak. Further research is needed, particularly to explore pathways to impact and understand the approach in different contexts and populations.
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Metadata
Title
Baby-Led Weaning: The Evidence to Date
Authors
Amy Brown
Sara Wyn Jones
Hannah Rowan
Publication date
01-06-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Nutrition Reports / Issue 2/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2161-3311
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-017-0201-2

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