The dissertation is devoted to the optimization of the dietary regimen for children
at risk of developing food allergies based on the analysis of physical development
indicators, levels of trace elements, total protein, and allergic status in different groups of
infants and young children who are fed using the Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) method.
"Complementary feeding is not just about food it's about relationships, trust,
development, and lifelong health," said Berthold Koletzko, President of the European
Academy of Paediatrics (EAP), at the PRIME PEDIATRICS 2025 Congress in Lviv. In
the 21st century, perspectives on introducing solid foods to infants through
complementary feeding have evolved. Since the early 2000s, an alternative method
known as Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) has emerged and gained popularity. The potential
advantages and drawbacks of BLW particularly its impact on child growth and
development, as well as the intake of adequate age-appropriate macro- and micronutrients
have become the subject of ongoing debate. Questions also remain open regarding how
different types of complementary feeding influence the development of food allergies
(FA).
The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the levels of food
sensitization, physical development status, and the characteristics of micronutrient and
protein absorption in young children following the BLW (Baby-Led Weaning) approach,
with subsequent scientific justification and implementation of recommendations for
optimizing nutrition in children belonging to various risk groups for developing food
allergies.
11
Based on a specially developed questionnaire, a survey was conducted among 545
Ukrainian mothers, and 502 informative responses were analyzed. It was found that the
largest proportion of modern mothers preferred BLW feeding – 204 (40.6%), 186 (37.0%)
followed traditional spoon-feeding, and 112 (22.3%) used a mixed type of
complementary feeding. In 82.5% of cases, mothers obtained information about BLW
independently through books and internet resources, and much less frequently through
doctors’ recommendations (8.60%) or their social circle (8.90%). It was established that
the vast majority of mothers who chose BLW (98.0%) offered their infants food in a safe
form, and only 1.5% offered adult food directly from the family table without
modification. Typical features of Ukrainian mothers who practiced BLW were a
normosthenic body type (80.4%), higher education (91.7%), urban residency (85.8%),
and more than half (65.7%) were on maternity leave. In families practicing BLW, the
child was most often the firstborn (75.5%). Depending on the method of complementary
feeding, the respondents were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 – BLW feeding (204
participants), Group 2 – traditional spoon-feeding (186 participants), Group 3 – mixed
feeding type (112 participants).
For the purpose of analyzing anamnesis data and assessing laboratory parameters
and overall physical development in children on different types of complementary
feeding, 100 children were examined. The participants were divided into three groups
according to the type of complementary feeding: children following a BLW (Baby-Led
Weaning) approach (n = 40); children receiving traditional feeding (n = 30); and children
receiving mixed feeding (n = 30). A comparative analysis of information about the
children showed that birth data were generally similar across the three groups: most were
born full-term (95.9%), predominantly via spontaneous delivery (70.9%), with average
birth weight (3384±501 g) and length (53.6±4.17 cm); 87.2% of infants were exclusively
breastfed before complementary feeding was introduced. The duration of breastfeeding
was significantly shorter in the traditional feeding group compared to the BLW group
(p=0.0004) and the mixed feeding group (p=0.0001). The age at which complementary
feeding was introduced was significantly lower in the traditional feeding group compared
to the BLW (p=0.0005) and mixed feeding groups (p=0.0003). Among adverse events,
12
regurgitation was more frequent (40.9%, p=0.012) in the traditional feeding group, while
gagging/choking on food occurred more often in the BLW group (11.8%, p=0.043).
Clinical and anamnesis-based assessments of atopy in infants in the three groups showed
no significant differences overall, though atopic manifestations were more common
(9.82%) in the mixed feeding group, along with a complicated family history of atopy
(50.9%).
A comparative analysis of physical and cognitive development, hematological
parameters, and macro- and micronutrient levels after 6 months of complementary
feeding was carried out in 3 groups: Group 1 – children fed with BLW (40 participants);
Group 2 – traditional feeding (30 participants); Group 3 – mixed feeding (30 participants).
