Is there a trend for toddlers to be fed like babies?

From the age of 10 months, babies should start to be fed with table foods. However, there is some evidence that toddlers are increasingly being fed like babies. This was investigated with data from the DONALD study. A total of 1 303 3-day weighed dietary records from 330 children aged 6 to 36 months were collected between 2004 and 2009 and analysed. Food intake was categorized by its form of preparation, as "bottle food", "baby food" and "table food", calculated as a percentage of total food consumption and analysed for trends over time. While the percentage of "bottle food" increased at the beginning of the sample period, this trend reversed from approximately 2006. The trend for the percentage of "table food" is converse: there was an increase until 2006, followed by a decrease. There was no significant time trend for "baby food". The data indicate that the transition to table food is delayed, as bottle food is consumed for longer periods. This can affect energy and nutrient intake as well as age-appropriate self-feeding skills.