Are the recommendations of pediatricians about complementary feeding aligned with current guidelines in Uruguay?
Abstract Objective: To explore Uruguayan pediatricians’ personal recommendations about complementary feeding and to assess if they are aligned with current guidelines and scientific evidence. Design: A questionnaire composed of open-ended questions was used to explore foods recommended to start complementary feeding, foods regarded as the most important during the first meals, recommendations for delayed introduction of foods, and foods that should be avoided. Reasons underlying the recommendations were also explored. Setting: Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay (Latin America). Participants: A total of 212 pediatricians were recruited during a National Pediatrics Conference, organized by the Uruguayan Society of Pediatrics. Results: The recommendations about complementary feeding provided by pediatricians to parents and caregivers in Uruguay seemed not to be fully aligned with the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health. Pediatricians recommend a rigid food introduction sequence, characterized by the early introduction of soft pureed vegetables and fruits, followed by meat and the delayed introduction of allergenic foods. Food diversity and the concept of ultra-processed were not frequently identified in the responses. Conclusions: Results stress the importance of developing educational and communication approaches targeted at pediatricians to contribute to the uptake of updated recommendations regarding complementary feeding.