(P10-051-24) Examining Caregiver Decisions to Begin Introduction of Complementary Foods to Infants and Toddlers

Objectives: To query caregivers regarding when, why, and how they introduce complementary foods (CF) to their 6-24-month-old children.

Methods: Caregivers (n=418; mother/father/other), recruited via a national Qualtrics survey, reported on timing of when CF were offered to their child (child age in mo), which factors related to their decision to begin offering CF (e.g., child behaviors, physician-recommendation), and the mode of feeding (e.g., mostly child-led, mostly caregiver-led, or 50-50 split). Descriptive statistics (means[M]/SDs; frequencies/percents) were computed for demographic characteristics, timing, mode, and reason for CF introduction for the total sample and for mothers and fathers, separately.

Results: Caregivers (n=269 mothers; n=145 fathers;), identified as White (42%), were married or partnered (65%), and had attended at least some college (79%). Only 65% of children (n=271; 49% female; 15.6 ± 5.6 mo) had been introduced to CF by 9 mo of age (range of CF introduction 1 – 24 mo). Ten percent of caregivers chose mostly child-led, 52% mostly caregiver-led, and 38% a 50-50 split in how children were fed. Some caregivers (13%) offered mostly finger foods, 41% offered mostly purees, and 44% offered both purees and finger foods. The most often endorsed factors given by caregivers for beginning CF included: child showed interest in what the family was eating (60%) or child started reaching for food (66%); a little less than half endorsed that their physician had suggested beginning CF (48%). Fewer endorsed being influenced by the child being able to sit on their own (45%), the child not sleeping through the night (12%), or the child not growing as expected (8%). Few differences were noted between mothers’ and fathers’ responses.

Conclusions: In this diverse sample of caregivers, child behaviors (interpreted as interest in and reaching for foods) influenced introduction of CF more so than developmental readiness (postural stability), concerns about growth or sleep, or advice from physicians. These insights suggest opportunities to provide caregivers with evidence-based information to promote CF practices that align with best practice and support children’s development.

Funding Sources: Avocado Nutrition Board