The Effect of Technology-Based Education Given to Mothers During the Transition to Complementary Feeding on Infant Development, Transition to Complementary Feeding Behavior, and Mothers' Anxiety Levels

March 17, 2026 updated by: Dilek Konukbay, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled pre-test post-test study to determine the effects of technology-based complementary feeding training given to mothers during the transition period of babies to complementary feeding on babies' behavior and development and their mothers' anxiety levels.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Breast milk is the most appropriate food for infant nutrition (1,2,3,4). Starting from the sixth month, complementary feeding begins with the addition of new foods, taking into account the baby's developmental characteristics and needs. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, initiating complementary feeding in addition to breast milk from the sixth month onward, and continuing breastfeeding until the age of two and beyond (5,6,7). The World Health Organization defines complementary feeding as "the period of transition to the family table, initiated in the sixth month when exclusive breastfeeding is no longer sufficient to meet the infant's needs, and during which a variety of semi-solid and solid foods are introduced along with breast milk" (8). Nutrition in the first two years of life forms the foundation of health (9,10). Growth and developmental delays that may occur during this period are very difficult to correct in later periods (11,12). The timing of complementary feeding, the way food is prepared, and the variety and proportion of nutrients offered are among the important factors affecting the baby's health (13,14). While inadequate or incorrect practices during complementary feeding increase the baby's risk of hypertension, allergies, type 1 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and growth retardation in later life, these risks can be reduced with timely and correct complementary feeding (15,16,17). The child's emotions should be taken into account during feeding, and feeding habits should be established gradually and patiently, without forcing, and by trying different tastes. To achieve this, responsive and enjoyable complementary feeding should be prioritized (7, 18, 19, 20). In recent years, responsive complementary feeding methods such as baby-led feeding (BLW) have been recommended in addition to traditional complementary feeding methods (21, 22). The WHO emphasizes the importance of responsive feeding, as well as timely and high-quality feeding, for optimal complementary feeding (5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 23, 24). BLW feeding is a baby-friendly alternative feeding method where babies feed themselves with portions of family meals, rather than spoon-fed pureed foods offered by parents during the transition to complementary feeding. BLW feeding is becoming increasingly popular due to its advantages, including reduced risk of obesity, improved nutritional quality, positive parental attitudes toward eating behavior, and support for motor development (7,24,25,26,27,28).

Health education, once provided one-on-one or in groups, can now be delivered in the form of technology-based health education, influenced by the use of the internet (29). The ease of accessibility of technology-based education, the availability of continuous information support at any time and place, and the use of different methods (video, animation, etc.) facilitate the widespread use of these education programs (30). Nurses can effectively provide education and consulting services using web-based education methods (31). Providing mothers with the most up-to-date information and methods regarding the transition to complementary feeding, which lays the foundations for healthy nutrition, is one of the most important duties of healthcare professionals, especially nurses. The transition to complementary feeding can create anxiety in both mothers and babies. A review of the relevant literature indicates that mothers experience anxiety and difficulties during the transition to complementary feeding (32,33). It has been reported that babies of anxious mothers are more likely to experience undernourishment or overnourishment (34). Therefore, evidence-based studies examining infants' transition to complementary feeding behavior, development, and mothers' anxiety levels are needed.

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of technology-based complementary feeding training given to mothers during the transition period of babies to complementary feeding on the babies' transition behavior to complementary feeding, their development, and their mothers' anxiety levels.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

132

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: DİLEK KONUKBAY Study Principal Investigator, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
  • Phone Number: +90-312-304 39 39
  • Email: dilek.konukbay@yahoo.com

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • University of Health Sciences Turkey Ankara, Turkey

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion criteria for mothers in the study were:

Being over 18 years of age, Having at least a primary school diploma, Having internet access at home or at work and being able to use the internet, Being able to speak Turkish, Not having received prior training on complementary feeding. • Mothers who agree to participate in the study will be included in the research.

The inclusion criteria for babies were:

Born between 37-42 weeks of gestation, Birth weight between 2500-4000 grams, No congenital anomalies, No chronic or metabolic diseases, No health problems, Babies who have not yet started complementary feeding.

Exclusion Criteria:

Mothers and infants who develop any of the exclusion criteria during the study's implementation and are unable to complete the program will be excluded from the sample.

-

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Transition to traditional complementary feeding
To determine the effect of web-based traditional complementary feeding education given to mothers of infants during the transition to complementary feeding on the infants' transition behavior, development, and the anxiety levels of their mothers.
Behavioral: Transition to traditional complementary feeding

Five-month-old babies in the complementary feeding phase will be identified. Before starting the training, mothers will fill out an introductory information form for their babies.

Anthropometric measurements of the babies will be taken by the researcher. Mothers will be administered an anxiety scale and a complementary feeding transition behavior scale.

The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies. Then, the mothers of these babies will be registered in the web-based training system. Training modules will be uploaded to the system according to months. Mothers will complete these training modules. At the end of the training, the anxiety scale will be administered to the mothers again. The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies again at 9 months.
Experimental: transition to baby-led weaning complementary feeding
To determine the effect of web-based, baby-led complementary feeding transition training given to mothers of infants during the complementary feeding transition period on the infants' complementary feeding transition behavior, development, and the anxiety levels of their mothers.
Behavioral: Transition to traditional complementary feeding

Five-month-old babies in the complementary feeding phase will be identified. Before starting the training, mothers will fill out an introductory information form for their babies.

Anthropometric measurements of the babies will be taken by the researcher. Mothers will be administered an anxiety scale and a complementary feeding transition behavior scale.

The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies. Then, the mothers of these babies will be registered in the web-based training system. Training modules will be uploaded to the system according to months. Mothers will complete these training modules. At the end of the training, the anxiety scale will be administered to the mothers again. The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies again at 9 months.
Experimental: Control group

Five-month-old babies in the complementary feeding period will be identified. Before starting the training, mothers will fill out an introductory information form for their babies.

Anthropometric measurements of the babies will be taken by the researcher. Mothers will be administered an anxiety scale and a complementary feeding transition behavior scale.

The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies. Then, mothers in the control group will receive routine training on transitioning to complementary feeding at the family health center according to their age in months. At the end of the training, the anxiety scale will be administered to the mothers again. The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies again at 9 months.
Behavioral: Transition to traditional complementary feeding

Five-month-old babies in the complementary feeding phase will be identified. Before starting the training, mothers will fill out an introductory information form for their babies.

Anthropometric measurements of the babies will be taken by the researcher. Mothers will be administered an anxiety scale and a complementary feeding transition behavior scale.

The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies. Then, the mothers of these babies will be registered in the web-based training system. Training modules will be uploaded to the system according to months. Mothers will complete these training modules. At the end of the training, the anxiety scale will be administered to the mothers again. The Denver II screening test will be administered to the babies again at 9 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Infants' transition to complementary feeding
Time Frame: 3 months
The infants' transition to complementary feeding will be measured using the 'Complementary Feeding Transition Behavior Scale'.
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Growth and development of babies during the transition to complementary feeding.
Time Frame: 3 months

Anthropometric measurements will be taken of the babies at 6 and 9 months.

The babies' development will be evaluated twice, at the beginning and end of the study, using the Denver II Developmental Screening Test, for which an application certificate is obtained.
3 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mothers' anxiety levels during the transition to complementary feeding for their babies
Time Frame: 3 months
The 'State-Trait Anxiety Scale' will be administered to the mothers of the infants at the beginning and end of the study.
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi Gulhane Tip Fakultesi

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

March 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 17, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SBU-KONUKBAY-004

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

We will not be able to share the data under the personal data protection laws in our country.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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