Are Complementary Feeding Practices Aligned with Current Recommendations? A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Complementary feeding is crucial for child development.
• Many parents struggle to adhere to established complementary feeding guidelines.
• Global variations exist in current feeding practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe current parental feeding practices during complementary feeding.
• To compare these practices with current recommendations.
• To explore factors influencing adherence to guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies published in the last decade.
• Inclusion of studies in French or English.
• Summarization of findings by recommendation category.

Main Results:

• Wide variation in timing of solid food introduction globally.
• Delayed introduction of allergenic foods and lumpy textures in many regions.
• Low consumption of iron-rich foods in Africa and early introduction of added sugars globally.
• Unclear evidence on responsive feeding practices due to limited studies.

Conclusions:

• Parental characteristics (age, education, SES, race/ethnicity) are key determinants of feeding practices.
• Interventions must consider these parental factors for effective guideline adherence.
• Addressing global disparities in complementary feeding is essential.