Effect of a modified version of baby-led weaning on the infant gut microbiota

The introduction of ‘solids’ to the milk-only diet of early infancy results in significant changes to the gut microbiota. Infants following a new approach to complementary feeding, Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), feed themselves finger foods from the start of complementary feeding, and are more likely to eat the same foods as their family. The aim of this study was to determine whether a ‘baby-led’ approach to complementary feeding, that encourages early introduction of an adult type diet, results in alterations to gut microbial composition compared to traditional spoon-feeding.