(P30-017-24) Study Protocol for the Baby-Feed Online Trial: A Web-Application for Caregivers To Improve and Monitor Diet and Growth in the First Year of Life

Objectives: To test Baby-Feed for 6 months among caregivers of infants on diet and weight gain compared to the control arm. We hypothesize that infants in the intervention arm will have a higher diet quality and a healthier rate of weight gain compared to controls.

Methods: This will be a randomized controlled trial among 160 caregivers with infants 1-3 months followed for 6 months or through their 9-month well-child visit. We chose this age range as this is the period in which caregivers initiate and continue complementary foods. Baby-Feed is a web-platform based on a validated infant food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and designed using the Health Self-Empowerment Theory and the Social Cognitive Theory. When caregivers randomized to the intervention group complete the online FFQ, results are automatically shown with feedback about which foods and nutrients are consumed adequately, below, or above the recommendations. The recommendations are shown for each food group by month and includes a short tracking form to help caregivers monitor if they are complying with them. It also includes a growth monitoring chart to allow caregivers to input the weight and length from the last well-child visit with feedback on how weight gain is progressing. Lastly, it includes links to other trusted feeding resources. The control group will only complete the infant FFQ online and the weight/length, without being able to view the results, recommendations, feedback, or additional resources. We will recruit caregivers (from social media, pediatric offices, and word of mouth) with a term (≥37 months gestational age) healthy infant, with internet access, willing to participate for the full study duration and receive text messages for communication and reminders, and English or Spanish language literate. We will exclude infants with special diets and caregivers unable to provide their consent, be randomized, or illiterate. The assessments include: caregiver/maternal socio-demographics and infant FFQ and weight/length collected at 4, 6, and 9 months of age, with an optional exit Zoom interview. All assessments will be done through Qualtrics or the Baby-Feed website.

Results: N/A

Conclusions: If successful, Baby-Feed could become a routine caregiver tool to improve diet and weight gain in the first year of life. 

Funding Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group