Lanigan J.: Complementary feeding - new WHO guideline

Interviewed today in the ESPGHAN podcast series is Dr Julie Lanigan of University College London, working at several hospitals in London and lecturing in Plymouth, a dietitian whose interest is in complementary feeding (once called “weaning”, or the introduction of foods other than milk to an infant’s diet).  Not just foods, but feeding, taking part in the activities that define the family – gaining a seat at the breakfast, lunch, and dinner table – goes into complementary feeding :  Starting with new tastes, moving into new textures, and expanding beyond the sweet into the bitter or complex as the infant is socialised into a child.  Practices in the introduction of feeding differ among cultural groups, and public-health measures and tactics must take those differences into account.  Also to be considered are development of sensitivities and hypersensitivities, including life-threatening allergic reactions.  And all these concerns are thrown into relief when dealing with the infant in whom pre-term birth, long stays in hospital, and other problems interrupt the usual patterns of feeding and of its complementation.  Why, then, Dr Lanigan asks us, is complementary feeding a matter of concern and study ?  At what age should complementary feeding begin ?  What are the nutritional risks associated with inappropriate complementary feeding?  An interesting excursus through situations with which we may not involve ourselves so often as we should.  Literature : Lanigan JA et al.  Systematic review concerning the age of introduction of complementary foods to the healthy full-term infant.  Eur J Clin Nutr 2001 May 55(5):309-320.  doi:  10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601168.  PMID:  11378803. Fewtrell M et al.  Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Committee on Nutrition.  J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2017 Jan 64(1):119-132.  doi:  10.1097/MPG.0000000000001454.  PMID:  28027215. World Health Organisation.  WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.  Geneva:  World Health Organization 2023.  PMID:  37871145. Dr. Laningan´s favourite song:  Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash &  Young https://open.spotify.com/track/29HaKOpeLSYvqdFyEQSRdj?si=6815f57be2ce4bc0 ESPGHAN favourite Songs can be found on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YIHKjxITLEm9XNyHyypTo