Differences in Eating Behaviour, Well-being and Personality Between Mothers Following Baby-led Vs. Traditional Weaning Styles

Overview

Journal Matern Child Nutr

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Nutritional Sciences

Date 2015 Jan 28

PMID 25623385

Citations 19

Authors

Amy Brown

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Baby-led weaning, where infants self-feed family foods in place of traditional spoon-feeding of purees, is continuing to grow in popularity. Evidence is emerging which suggests that the method may promote healthier eating behaviour and weight gain in children, but the research is in its infancy. One issue is the self-selecting nature of participants to the approach. Although those who follow a baby-led approach are known to have a higher education and more professional occupation, little is known about wider maternal characteristics, which might affect either adoption of or outcomes of the method. The aim of this study was to explore differences in maternal characteristics between those adopting a baby-led or traditional approach. Six hundred four mothers with an infant aged 6-12 months completed a questionnaire including a copy of the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and depression scales) and Ten Item Personality Questionnaire (TIPQ) alongside details of weaning approach (baby-led vs. traditional). Mothers who adopted a baby-led weaning style scored significantly lower on restrained eating (DEBQ), anxiety and introversion (TIPQ) and anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (BSI). Mothers who currently adopt a baby-led approach are therefore significantly different in personality, eating behaviour and well-being characteristics compared with those adopting a traditional approach. These characteristics may affect likelihood of choosing a baby-led approach or indirectly affect outcomes for infants weaned using the approach. Further research exploring baby-led weaning in a wider population sample is needed.

Citing Articles

Baby-Led Weaning vs. Traditional Complementary Feeding-Differences in Feeding Practices Among Polish Children Aged 6-36 Months-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bialek-Dratwa A, Dawid K, Staskiewicz-Bartecka W, Kiciak A, Kowalski O Nutrients. 2025; 17(5).

PMID: 40077769 PMC: 11901614. DOI: 10.3390/nu17050899.

Professional Feeding Guidance Improved Infants' Self-Feeding Proportion during Complementary Foods Introduction in Beijing, China: An Exploratory Study.

Song G, Chang J, Guan H, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhang Z Children (Basel). 2023; 10(11).

PMID: 38002831 PMC: 10670357. DOI: 10.3390/children10111740.

Adherence to Infant Feeding Guidelines in the First Foods New Zealand Study.

Brown K, Beck K, von Hurst P, Heath A, Taylor R, Haszard J Nutrients. 2023; 15(21).

PMID: 37960303 PMC: 10647304. DOI: 10.3390/nu15214650.

Infant Complementary Feeding Methods and Subsequent Occurrence of Food Neophobia-A Cross-Sectional Study of Polish Children Aged 2-7 Years.

Bialek-Dratwa A, Kowalski O Nutrients. 2023; 15(21).

PMID: 37960243 PMC: 10648584. DOI: 10.3390/nu15214590.

Are Complementary Feeding Practices Aligned with Current Recommendations? A Narrative Review.

Nantel A, Gingras V Children (Basel). 2023; 10(5).

PMID: 37238342 PMC: 10217166. DOI: 10.3390/children10050794.

References

Ebstrup J, Eplov L, Pisinger C, Jorgensen T . Association between the Five Factor personality traits and perceived stress: is the effect mediated by general self-efficacy?. Anxiety Stress Coping. 2011; 24(4):407-19. DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2010.540012. View

Tiggemann M, Lowes J . Predictors of maternal control over children's eating behaviour. Appetite. 2002; 39(1):1-7. DOI: 10.1006/appe.2002.0487. View

McDermott B, Mamun A, Najman J, Williams G, OCallaghan M, Bor W . Preschool children perceived by mothers as irregular eaters: physical and psychosocial predictors from a birth cohort study. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2008; 29(3):197-205. DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e318163c388. View

Hurley K, Black M, Papas M, Caulfield L, Caufield L . Maternal symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety are related to nonresponsive feeding styles in a statewide sample of WIC participants. J Nutr. 2008; 138(4):799-805. PMC: 3137941. DOI: 10.1093/jn/138.4.799. View

Rowan H, Harris C . Baby-led weaning and the family diet. A pilot study. Appetite. 2012; 58(3):1046-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2012.01.033. View

Hart R, McMahon C . Mood state and psychological adjustment to pregnancy. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2006; 9(6):329-37. DOI: 10.1007/s00737-006-0141-0. View

Vollrath M, Tonstad S, Rothbart M, Hampson S . Infant temperament is associated with potentially obesogenic diet at 18 months. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2010; 6(2-2):e408-14. PMC: 3128685. DOI: 10.3109/17477166.2010.518240. View

Farrow C, Blissett J . Maternal cognitions, psychopathologic symptoms, and infant temperament as predictors of early infant feeding problems: a longitudinal study. Int J Eat Disord. 2005; 39(2):128-34. DOI: 10.1002/eat.20220. View

Stenhammar C, Olsson G, Bahmanyar S, Hulting A, Wettergren B, Edlund B . Family stress and BMI in young children. Acta Paediatr. 2010; 99(8):1205-12. DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01776.x. View

10.

Rhee K, Lumeng J, Appugliese D, Kaciroti N, Bradley R . Parenting styles and overweight status in first grade. Pediatrics. 2006; 117(6):2047-54. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2005-2259. View

11.

Sachs M . Baby-led weaning and current UK recommendations--are they compatible?. Matern Child Nutr. 2010; 7(1):1-2. PMC: 6860635. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2010.00278.x. View

12.

Agostoni C, Decsi T, Fewtrell M, Goulet O, Kolacek S, Koletzko B . Complementary feeding: a commentary by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2007; 46(1):99-110. DOI: 10.1097/01.mpg.0000304464.60788.bd. View

13.

Bozan N, Bas M, Asci F . Psychometric properties of Turkish version of Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ). A preliminary results. Appetite. 2011; 56(3):564-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2011.01.025. View

14.

Brown A . Maternal restraint and external eating behaviour are associated with formula use or shorter breastfeeding duration. Appetite. 2014; 76:30-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.12.022. View

15.

Wasser H, Bentley M, Borja J, Goldman B, Thompson A, Slining M . Infants perceived as "fussy" are more likely to receive complementary foods before 4 months. Pediatrics. 2011; 127(2):229-37. PMC: 3025423. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-0166. View

16.

Mitchell S, Brennan L, Hayes L, Miles C . Maternal psychosocial predictors of controlling parental feeding styles and practices. Appetite. 2009; 53(3):384-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2009.08.001. View

17.

Ogden J, Reynolds R, Smith A . Expanding the concept of parental control: a role for overt and covert control in children's snacking behaviour?. Appetite. 2006; 47(1):100-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2006.03.330. View

18.

Brown A, Lee M . An exploration of experiences of mothers following a baby-led weaning style: developmental readiness for complementary foods. Matern Child Nutr. 2011; 9(2):233-43. PMC: 6860574. DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00360.x. View

19.

Beck C . A meta-analysis of the relationship between postpartum depression and infant temperament. Nurs Res. 1996; 45(4):225-30. DOI: 10.1097/00006199-199607000-00006. View

20.

Brown A, Raynor P, Lee M . Maternal control of child-feeding during breast and formula feeding in the first 6 months post-partum. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2011; 24(2):177-86. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01145.x. View