Role of baby-led weaning in iron-deficiency anemia and foreign body aspiration in infants: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVES

Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) encourages self-feeding of finger foods from the start of complementary feeding, in contrast to traditional spoon-feeding (TSF). Concerns have been raised about the potential risks of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and foreign body aspiration (FBA) in BLW. Although BLW is a widely used feeding approach, there are currently no established guidelines specifically addressing its practice. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of BLW in cases of IDA and FBA, and to compare iron-rich food consumption and safe feeding practices between children fed with BLW, TSF and a mixed feeding approach.

METHODS

Children aged 6-24 months who received a diagnosis of IDA and/or FBA at our centre between January 2015 and October 2020 were included in our study. Medical history and circumstances surrounding the choking episode were reviewed. A parental questionnaire was subsequently administered to document the complementary feeding approach, eating habits and demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

This study included 186 IDA and 33 FBA patients. Among IDA cases, 12.9 % practiced BLW, 68.3 % used TSF and 18.8 % employed a mixed feeding approach. Additionally, when diagnosed with IDA, patients using BLW were younger than those in the TSF and mixed feeding groups. Blood measures of iron status did not differ between the groups. Among the 33 FBA cases, 6 patients were classified into the BLW group, 22 into the TSF group and 5 into the mixed feeding approach group.

CONCLUSIONS

The BLW and mixed feeding approaches may be overrepresented in IDA and FBA cases in children. Regardless of the feeding method, many cases resulted from eating patterns that didn't meet existing guidelines. This study emphasizes the need for better parent education on safe and adequate infant nutrition.