(OR13-02-24) Infants Following Baby-Led Weaning Had Increased Growth Trajectories Compared to Conventional Weaning While Consuming Similar Energy

Objectives: Determine the associations between infant complementary feeding methods, dietary intake, and growth.

Methods: 100 healthy, 5-month-old full-term infants were recruited from the Denver, CO area to participate in a longitudinal randomized controlled feeding trial. Dietary data and anthropometry were obtained at 5, 9, and 12 months. Baby-led weaning (BLW) was defined as pureed foods accounting for < 10% of total energy intake (n=35). To limit possible confounding, a subset of infants were used with n=35 in each group. Weighed diet records were completed to quantify intake of formula, solid food, and breastmilk via test weighing; the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) was used for dietary analysis. Mode of feeding and demographic information, including parity, ethnicity, maternal education and age, and gross family income, was obtained. Changes in growth z-scores between groups were compared using unpaired t-tests. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare demographic data between BLW and conventional weaning (CW).

Results: BLW was higher with post-secondary maternal education (64% BLW, 37% CW) [p=0.04]. As income group increased, the proportion of BLW also increased (p=0.04). Mode of feeding and other demographic factors did not differ between BLW vs CW. No significant differences were seen in energy intake (kcal/kg) between BLW and CW at any time point. Protein intake was significantly higher with BLW at 9 months (2.43 g/kg vs 1.99 g/kg) [p=0.01] but not at 5 or 12 months. The change in weight-for-age z-score was higher in BLW than CW between 5 and 9 months (+0.62, +0.23 respectively) [p=0.007] and 5 and 12 months (+0.72, +0.34) [p=0.04]. Weight-for-length z-score also showed a higher change in BLW vs CW between 5 and 9 months (+0.53, +0.07) [p=0.02] and 5 and 12 months (+0.61, +0.15) [p=0.04]. No significant differences were seen in change of length-for-age z-score.

Conclusions: BLW was more common with higher maternal education and income group. BLW infants had a greater increase in WAZ and WLZ than CW infants despite similar energy intake, though intakes are self-reported by caregivers and may have inconsistencies. Additional research is warranted to further evaluate the relationship between complementary feeding method, dietary intake, and growth.

Funding Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Mead Johnson Nutrition