Baby-Led Weaning: A Scoping Review Exploring Benefits and Risks in Comparison With Traditional Approaches to...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Nutrition Science
• Infant Health

Background:

• Complementary feeding is crucial for infant nutrition and establishing healthy eating habits.
• Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a method where infants self-feed finger foods from the start of solids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing evidence on the advantages, disadvantages, and safety of BLW versus traditional complementary feeding.
• To assess the scope and nature of research on BLW.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of studies on BLW, traditional weaning, or mixed approaches.
• Searched PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for English peer-reviewed literature up to July 05, 2024.
• Data extraction and analysis conducted by two independent authors.

Main Results:

• The review included 63 studies and 80 reports, with most originating from the UK.
• Evidence covered food intake, eating behavior, growth, development, choking risk, and parental/professional perspectives.
• Common assessment methods included questionnaires and 24-hour recalls.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence on BLW is varied, with a need for stronger study designs.
• Objective assessments and a standardized definition of BLW are recommended for future research.