Complementary feeding and “donner les bases du goût” (providing the foundation of taste). A qualitative approach to understand weaning practices, attitudes and experiences by French mothers

•Complementary feeding or weaning practices shape dietary habits later in life.•French mothers view this period as an important milestone which is both complex and emotional.•“Laying the foundation of taste” was identified by French mothers as crucial.•Mothers sought advice about weaning to facilitate the transition from milk to the family diet.•However, advice from others was adapted to suit the needs of their baby. Complementary feeding (CF) practices vary within and across cultures but have been investigated only to a very limited extent. It is however important to understand CF practices and how they differ, as CF sets the foundation for children’s later food choices. The present study was set out to examine practices, attitudes and experiences of CF including the introduction of vegetables amongst French mothers (n=18, 25–39years). Thematic analysis of transcribed focus groups and interviews revealed the perceived importance of the weaning period, as a critical milestone for infants’ development but with a sense of “now or never” for introducing new tastes including vegetables. Flavour exposure and taste discovery during weaning were identified as the beginning of a “taste journey”, in which educating the palate with a variety of different foods was considered important for children’s later eating habits. Weaning was described as emotional and complex, a transition period in which the baby makes progress away from milk towards the family diet and which goes beyond mere nutrition. Advice was sought from official sources, but adapted to the needs of infants. In agreement with earlier observations of French adults, pleasure and taste development were considered of primary importance. In particular, French mothers believed complementary feeding lay the foundations of taste early in life.