Baby-led weaning (BLW) is an increasingly popular way of expanding a baby’s diet. It is based on the baby becoming physically ready to feed himself, effectively supplementing his diet, which until now has been based on breast milk or modified milk. The aim of the study was to assess mothers’ knowledge about the use of the BLW method to expand the diet of a young child. The essence of the study assumed the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of using this method indicated by mothers. Materials and Methods: A total of 320 mothers participated in the study. Data for the study were collected anonymously using the CAWI method. The research tool was the original questionnaire relating to the knowledge about the BLW method and the application of the BLW method in practice. Results: The BLW method was used by 240 (75%) women. The reasons for not using the BLW method were: the child did not cooperate n = 30 (37.5%) and was not ready to use the BLW method n = 20 (25%). In total, 182 (75.8%) mothers using BLW and 63 (78.8%) mothers not using BLW started extending the diet before the child was 6 months old. According to 270 (84.4%) mothers, including 205 (85.4%) using BLW, stable sitting in a highchair/on the lap is a decisive factor for starting the dietary expansion with the BLW method. Conclusions: Mothers’ knowledge of the BLW method as a way of expanding a young child’s diet was insufficient. It seems important to implement appropriate educational activities on the methods of expanding children’s diets to broaden parents’ knowledge of the influence of nutrition on infant development.
Background: Asthma and obesity commonly co-occur in children, with obesity contributing to asthma development through inflammatory and mechanical pathways. A Mediterranean diet may reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. However, research on the effects of nutritional interventions and dietary education in children with asthma and obesity within the Polish population remains limited. Methods: 142 participants were enrolled in the observational study and divided into three groups: children with asthma and overweight/obesity, children with overweight/obesity, and a control group. Anthropometric and clinical data, dietary habits, and lifestyle parameters (sleep duration, physical activity, screen time) were assessed at baseline and after one year of nutritional intervention. The Mediterranean diet was the main dietary model advocated throughout the intervention. Diet quality and adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern were evaluated using the KIDMED 2.0 index, reflecting the anti-inflammatory components of the intervention. Nutritional education was delivered every 6–8 weeks. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The nutritional intervention led to significant improvements in metabolic parameters, evidenced by reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting glucose levels. A decrease in C-reactive protein levels indicated reduced inflammation. The adherence index to the Mediterranean diet, measured by the KIDMED 2.0 scale, significantly increased in all groups, with the most favorable effects observed in the obese/overweight group with asthma. Positive behavioral changes were also noted, including increased physical activity, longer sleep duration, and reduced screen time. The intervention also contributed to a significant improvement in participants’ nutritional knowledge. Conclusions: Dietary education and an anti-inflammatory diet improved health in children with asthma and obesity. Early nutritional interventions helped reduce inflammation, improve metabolism, and shape behaviors. The findings stress the need to integrate diet education into therapeutic and preventive strategies for affected pediatric populations.