Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an alternative weaning method that proposes to let children feed themselves from six months of age with suitable solid finger foods. BLW is becoming increasingly popular across the globe; however, research is limited on its effects on diet-related behaviours in Canadians, and no study has yet addressed the developmental impacts of this feeding approach. The study aimed to compare children’s mealtime behaviours, food acceptance, fine motor skills and sensory modulation between the BLW and traditional spoon-feeding (TSF) methods. Eighty-two children (41 in each group) aged 10-14 months old were recruited from three urban Canadian cities. Compared to the TSF method, BLW was associated with a better satiety-responsiveness score (TSF 13.6 ± 0.5 vs. BLW 11.6 ± 0.5, p=0.005) and a slower eating pace (TSF 11.4 ± 0.5 vs. BLW 10.0 ± 0.5, p=0.04). No significant differences were observed between groups for food acceptance, but trends were observed for fine motor skills and sensory modulation (p=0.05 to 0.09). Parental pressure was found to be associated with the consumption of several food groups and mealtime behaviours. These results indicate that BLW promotes the listening of hunger and satiety cues at mealtime, which helps to regulate food intake.

The Baby-Led Weaning Method in a Canadian Setting; a Focus on Mealtime Behaviors and Food Acceptance.