An online survey of dietary quality during complementary feeding; associations with maternal feeding self-efficacy and adherence to dietary recommendations

Table 3 Participant complementary feeding practices (N = 466)

Continuous variables	Mean ± SD	Min—Max
Breastfeeding duration (mo)	7.3 ± 5.2	0 – 18
Timing of introduction of solids (wk)	24.7 ± 2.8	8 – 30
CFUI score	0.8 ± 0.12	0.3 – 1
Nominal variables	N	Proportion % ¹
Breastfeeding (at all)
Yes / No	390 / 76	83.7 / 16.3
Timing of introduction of solids (categories)
≤ 17 weeks (up to 4 mo)	18	3.9
18 – 25 weeks	121	26
≥ 26 weeks (6 mo and after)	326	70.1
Quintiles of CFUI score²
Q1 / Q2 / Q3 / Q4 / Q5	0/3/29/188/246	0/0.6/6.2/40.3/52.9
Prompts for introducing solids
Baby was interested in food	69	14.8
Baby was developmentally ready	106	22.7
I followed the NHS recommendation	258	55.4
Other³	33	7.1
Feeding commercial infant foods
Yes / never	62 / 155	28.6 / 71.4

¹Proportions are expressed as valid percentages due to missing cases for every variable
²CFUI scoring range was split into equal quintiles to show the distribution of diet quality scores across the sample
³Other, less frequently reported triggers for complementary feeding include: being encouraged by the health visitor, changes in baby’s weight, perceived hunger, disrupted sleep and mother’s desire to stop breastfeeding

ISSN: 2055-0928