Marzo 2018 - Volume XXXVII - numero 3
Ricerca
1Programma Gastroenterologia Pediatrica, Ospedale Maggiore, Bologna
2Dipartimento NEUROFARBA; Università di Firenze, AOU Meyer, Firenze
3Pediatria di famiglia, Castelfiorentino (Firenze)
4Pediatria di famiglia, Teramo
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: patrizia.alvisi@ausl.bologna.it
Key words: Complementary feeding, Primary care paediatrician, Baby-led weaning
Background - Complementary feeding (CF) is a delicate phase in children’s growth.
The lack of evidence-based clinical recommendation on CF creates confusion and
leads to important differences of behaviour both among primary care paediatricians
and families.
Aim - This article reports two simple surveys carried out all over Italy that involved a
sample of primary care paediatricians and one of families respectively, with the intention
of describing the habits related to CF.
Methods - A 4-question questionnaire on timing and weaning methods, the use of industrial
processed food and the use of a written scheme was sent to a group of 538 primary
care paediatricians. A second 5-question questionnaire on the type of nursing, the
timing and type of food used to complement milk (breastmilk or formula), the use or not
of industrial processed food and the importance of paediatric indications was distributed
to 1,435 families.
Results - Responses were received from 538 paediatricians and 1,199 families. Almost
90% of mothers in Italy start to breastfeed their babies, but this percentage is drastically
reduced (almost by 50%) to six months of age. The fifth and the sixth month of infant life
are the privileged months to start complementary feeding. This age is recommended by
91% of paediatricians and 73.7% of the parents follow this advice. The classic Italian
baby food (rice or corn and tapioca flour with vegetable broth, parmesan, extra virgin
olive oil and meat) is still very used and is recommended by 62.4% of paediatricians
and used by 84.8% of households. Baby led weaning (BLW) has a rather marginal role
as just 7.6% of the paediatricians indicate it and 8.3% of the families practice it, while
30% of the paediatricians propose a classic weaning with adult meal tastes. Industrial
food is widely used, indeed 64.5% of paediatricians recommend it and 79.7% of
households use it at least partially. More than 99% of households follow the paediatrician's
instructions concerning weaning and 93.3% of the paediatricians give a written
scheme to the parents.
Conclusions - Primary care paediatricians have a central role in managing the weaning
time for Italian families. The use of Italian classic baby food is widespread, while BLW
has a marginal role. Paediatricians rely on written schemes in most cases. It would be
desirable that such schemes should not replace a training interview with parents that
should provide families with few but clear indications based on scientific evidence.
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