We aimed to characterize the parenteral supplementation services in Czechia, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom based on their websites. We generated a list of websites by searching Google using the term “vitamin infusion” and selected cities with 250,000 citizens from each analyzed country. All search inputs were performed using the native language. Data on the features of services, indications, contraindications, offered parenteral supplements, and social media activity were obtained. We analyzed 317 websites representing 371 active facilities. Only 6 (1.9%) facilities cited the scientific sources on parenteral supplementation, but these reference were highly biased; 17.4% did not provide information regarding their personnel, while 11.9% indicated the different contraindications. The most common indications were fatigue (62.5%), immunity enhancement (58.0%), anti-aging, and physical activity (51.5%). Approximately, 11.6% of facilities claimed that some parenteral supplements can help manage certain malignancies, while 2.2% claimed that they can help manage fertility problems. The most offered intravenous supplements were vitamins C (57.4%), B12 (47.7%), and B6 (42.3%). The parenteral supplementation market offers numerous ingredients as treatment for general health problems and serious health conditions. Many analyzed websites lacked essential information, which creates concerns for regarding the quality and reliability of the services.
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly popular way of expanding a baby’s diet. It is based on the baby becoming physically ready to feed himself, effectively supplementing his diet, which until now has been based on breast milk or modified milk. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowledge about the use of the BLW method to expand the diet of a young child. The essence of the study assumed the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of using this method indicated by mothers. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 mothers participated in the study. Data for the study were collected anonymously using the CAWI method. The research tool was the original questionnaire relating to the knowledge about the BLW method and the application of the BLW method in practice. Results: The BLW method was used by 240 (75%) women. The reasons for not using the BLW method were: the child did not cooperate n = 30 (37.5%) and was not ready to use the BLW method n = 20 (25%). In total, 182 (75.8%) mothers using BLW and 63 (78.8%) mothers not using BLW started extending the diet before the child was 6 months old. According to 270 (84.4%) mothers, including 205 (85.4%) using BLW, stable sitting in a highchair/on the lap is a decisive factor for starting the dietary expansion with the BLW method. Conclusions: Mothers’ knowledge of the BLW method as a way of expanding a young child’s diet was insufficient. It seems important to implement appropriate educational activities on the methods of expanding children’s diets to broaden parents’ knowledge of the influence of nutrition on infant development.
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly widely known method of introducing complementary foods to an infant’s diet. BLW is based on a child’s physical readiness for self-feeding, with a positive effect of expansion of a diet that was previously based exclusively on mother’s milk or formula milk. There are both advantages and disadvantages of BLW. The advantages of BLW include, among other aspects, the fact that the child finds eating pleasurable, it can eat meals together with the family, it can eat away from home and has an opportunity to learn new flavours. The disadvantages of BLW include, for example, disorder caused by the child during self-feeding and a risk of choking. In order to prevent choking, it is recommended that products which are small and round with a hard and smooth surface, and a cross-section resembling that of the child’s airways be avoided. According to the current guidelines of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, for the first 6 months of life a child should be fed exclusively with their mother’s milk and complementary foods should be introduced starting between week 17 and 26 of the child’s life due to the development of readiness to consume solid food. Complementary feeding can be achieved through self-feeding based on BLW or by the child being fed by an adult using a spoon, among other means. The order in which different products are introduced is decided on by the parents. After the child has turned one year of age, breastfeeding should be continued as long as the mother and child wish.
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