Spoon-Feeding Kids Could Lead To Sweet Teeth

Spoon feeding kids for too long might be a bad idea, a new study finds.

Researchers found that children who were baby-led into solid foods by feeding themselves tended to prefer carbohydrates, which are still considered the building blocks of a healthy diet.

Spoon-fed babies, who were fed puréed baby foods by their parents, tended to prefer sweets.

The study, published in BMJ Open, questioned parents about their infant feeding and weaning style, as well as their child's preference for food according to category.

They found that there was a higher incidence of obesity in the spoon-fed group, while more of the baby-led children were underweight.

Researchers suggest that the baby-led approach to introducing solid foods allows children to learn diet regulation that leads to a preference for healthier foods.

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