The effect of age of introduction to lumpy solids on foods eaten and reported feeding difficulties at 6 and 15 months

Aim The study aimed to document the dietary patterns of infants and determi ne the development of feeding difficulties as perceived by the mother accor ding to the age at which lumpy solids were introduced into the diet. Study design Information was collected from a geographically representative population of 9360 mothers of infants born in 1991/92, part of the Avon Lo ngitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC). Self-completion quest ionnaires enquiring about the foods and drinks consumed by the infant and a ny difficulties experienced by the mothers in feeding her child at both 6 m onths and 15 months of age were collected. Methods Infants were divided into three groups based on the age at which th ey were first introduced to 'lumpy' solids: 10.7% were introduced before 6 months of age, 71.7% were introduced between 6 and 9 months and 17.6% were introduced after 10 months of age. The foods eaten by those introduced befo re 6 months and after 10 months were compared to those introduced between 6 and 9 months. Behaviours and problems as reported by the mother were also assessed. Results Those infants who were introduced to lumpy solids at the earliest a ges consumed a greater variety of family foods at the age of 6 months, whil e those introduced at 10 months or later had been given fewer solids of all types by 6 months of age and at 15 months were significantly less likely t o be having family foods when compared to those introduced between 6 and 9 months. At each age, those introduced late (10 months or older) to lumps we re more difficult to feed and had more definite likes and dislikes. Conclusions A significant difference was observed in the variety of foods g iven to infants at both 6 and 15 months according to the age at which they began to have lumps in their food, and feeding difficulties were more likel y to occur when lumps were introduced at or after 10 months of age.