Mothers' experiences with complementary feeding: Conventional and baby-led approaches

Aim Lifelong eating behaviours are shaped in infancy with the introduction of solid foods (complementary feeding). A conventional approach to complementary feeding, encompassing spoon feeding of pureed foods, has long been the standard. Baby-led weaning is a contemporary approach whereby the infant is encouraged to choose what and how much they eat. Mothers navigate decisions about what and how to introduce foods to their infant in diverse ways. This study set out to explore the complementary feeding approaches of women. Methods A qualitative study utilising photovoice and focus groups generated data that provided insight into women's lived experiences of complementary feeding. Thirteen women were purposively sampled and data were analysed in line with descriptive phenomenology. Results Three recurrent themes emerged from the data. Women's approaches to complementary feeding were mediated by trust, convenience and making decisions that were value based versus practical based. Trust manifested in various forms including trusting the infant, trusting women's own instincts and the tension between social pressures and trust of self. Conclusions Differences between women following a conventional vs baby-led approach were also seen in perceptions of convenience, and the decision-making process. This study provides insight into how and why women choose certain feeding practices and can be used to better equip health professionals to work with new mothers in providing realistic and nuanced feeding support.