Complementary Feeding Practices and Nutritional Counseling: A Cross-Sectional Qualitative Study in Southern Brazil

Jéssica Dalla Costa, Cristine Vanz Borges and Débora Fernandes Pinheiro*

Objective: To investigate how complementary feeding practices are implemented and to assess parents’ awareness of the importance of professional nutritional monitoring during the complementary feeding period.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, qualitative study exploring feeding practices and sources of guidance used by parents during the introduction of solid foods. The study was conducted in Brazil within the Mãe Caçadorense parenting group, located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. A total of 97 individuals participated in the study. Among them, 51 parents or caregivers reported recent experiences related to complementary feeding. Key variables included: whether participants sought nutritional counseling during complementary feeding; sources of feeding guidance (pediatrician, family members, nutritionists); timing of solid food introduction; age at which processed foods were first offered; and parents’ intentions regarding future feeding practices.

Results: The results showed that 78.8% of parents did not seek nutritional counseling during the complementary feeding phase. Among those who did receive guidance, 61.5% relied primarily on pediatricians, while all instances of consulting a nutritionist occurred only after complementary feeding had already begun. The main reasons for seeking nutritional advice were concerns about the child’s weight and diet-related health conditions. Although the introduction of solid foods generally occurred in line with recommended guidelines, among participants who reported introducing processed and ultra-processed foods, the mean age at introduction was 5.96 ± 2.88 months. Many participants expressed a desire to adopt healthier feeding practices in the future.

Conclusion: Exclusive breastfeeding alone is no longer sufficient after six months of age, making complementary feeding essential to meet an infant’s nutritional needs. This study shows that many parents lack timely access to professional nutritional guidance, often relying instead on pediatricians or family advice, which can lead to inadequate feeding practices. These findings highlight the need to strengthen the role of nutritionists and ensure that families receive accessible, evidence-based guidance to support healthy complementary feeding and prevent long-term nutrition-related health risks.

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Published on: Sep 25, 2026 Pages: 17-23

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/jfsnt.000061
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