Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly popular way of expanding a baby’s diet. It is based on the baby becoming physically ready to feed himself, effectively supplementing his diet, which until now has been based on breast milk or modified milk. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowled...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/12/2372 |
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| author | Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa Monika Soczewka Mateusz Grajek Elżbieta Szczepańska Oskar Kowalski |
| author_facet | Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa Monika Soczewka Mateusz Grajek Elżbieta Szczepańska Oskar Kowalski |
| author_sort | Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly popular way of expanding a baby’s diet. It is based on the baby becoming physically ready to feed himself, effectively supplementing his diet, which until now has been based on breast milk or modified milk. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowledge about the use of the BLW method to expand the diet of a young child. The essence of the study assumed the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of using this method indicated by mothers. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 mothers participated in the study. Data for the study were collected anonymously using the CAWI method. The research tool was the original questionnaire relating to the knowledge about the BLW method and the application of the BLW method in practice. Results: The BLW method was used by 240 (75%) women. The reasons for not using the BLW method were: the child did not cooperate n = 30 (37.5%) and was not ready to use the BLW method n = 20 (25%). In total, 182 (75.8%) mothers using BLW and 63 (78.8%) mothers not using BLW started extending the diet before the child was 6 months old. According to 270 (84.4%) mothers, including 205 (85.4%) using BLW, stable sitting in a highchair/on the lap is a decisive factor for starting the dietary expansion with the BLW method. Conclusions: Mothers’ knowledge of the BLW method as a way of expanding a young child’s diet was insufficient. It seems important to implement appropriate educational activities on the methods of expanding children’s diets to broaden parents’ knowledge of the influence of nutrition on infant development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dd7a723b9d6c4b0e8a6e248d42e6964c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:51:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd7a723b9d6c4b0e8a6e248d42e6964c2023-11-23T18:19:54ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-06-011412237210.3390/nu14122372Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW MethodAgnieszka Białek-Dratwa0Monika Soczewka1Mateusz Grajek2Elżbieta Szczepańska3Oskar Kowalski4Department of Human Nutrition, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, PolandDepartment of Pediatric Diabetes, Auxology and Obesity, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-512 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Public Health, Department of Public Health Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Piekarska 18, 41-902 Bytom, PolandDepartment of Human Nutrition, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, PolandDepartment of Human Nutrition, Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences in Bytom, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, ul. Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, PolandBaby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly popular way of expanding a baby’s diet. It is based on the baby becoming physically ready to feed himself, effectively supplementing his diet, which until now has been based on breast milk or modified milk. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowledge about the use of the BLW method to expand the diet of a young child. The essence of the study assumed the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of using this method indicated by mothers. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 mothers participated in the study. Data for the study were collected anonymously using the CAWI method. The research tool was the original questionnaire relating to the knowledge about the BLW method and the application of the BLW method in practice. Results: The BLW method was used by 240 (75%) women. The reasons for not using the BLW method were: the child did not cooperate n = 30 (37.5%) and was not ready to use the BLW method n = 20 (25%). In total, 182 (75.8%) mothers using BLW and 63 (78.8%) mothers not using BLW started extending the diet before the child was 6 months old. According to 270 (84.4%) mothers, including 205 (85.4%) using BLW, stable sitting in a highchair/on the lap is a decisive factor for starting the dietary expansion with the BLW method. Conclusions: Mothers’ knowledge of the BLW method as a way of expanding a young child’s diet was insufficient. It seems important to implement appropriate educational activities on the methods of expanding children’s diets to broaden parents’ knowledge of the influence of nutrition on infant development.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/12/2372child nutritionexpanding the diet of infantsBLWcomplementary feeding |
| spellingShingle | Agnieszka Białek-Dratwa Monika Soczewka Mateusz Grajek Elżbieta Szczepańska Oskar Kowalski Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method Nutrients child nutrition expanding the diet of infants BLW complementary feeding |
| title | Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method |
| title_full | Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method |
| title_fullStr | Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method |
| title_short | Use of the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) Method in Complementary Feeding of the Infant—A Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers Using and Not Using the BLW Method |
| title_sort | use of the baby led weaning blw method in complementary feeding of the infant a cross sectional study of mothers using and not using the blw method |
| topic | child nutrition expanding the diet of infants BLW complementary feeding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/12/2372 |
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