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Aim: To explore the use of electronic devices in children and possible risk factors for smartphone ownership and cyberbullying. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey study was conducted involving 62 Italian general paediatricians who administered a close‐ended questionnaire about the use of electronic devices to 1732 parents/caregivers. Results: Data of 2563 children aged 0–14 years were collected. Investigating the electronic device use by parents/caregivers of children aged 0–1 years, 72.5% of mothers were revealed to have the habit to use a smartphone during breastfeeding and bottle‐feeding. The ownership of a smartphone was found in 29.5% of children aged 2–14 years, 68.1% considering only children aged 10–14. A higher parental degree level was identified as a protective factor for smartphone ownership by children (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.36–0.98; p = 0.04 for father; OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.33–0.78; p = 0.002 for mother). A higher risk of cyberbullying was found when caregivers did not use any restrictions on smartphone use (OR 11.92; 95% CI 3.41–41.68; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The absence of rules for smartphone use represents a risk factor for cyberbullying. In this context, the general paediatrician might play an important role in helping parents/caregivers and their children adopt safer use of electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complementary feeding practices are debated among pediatricians, primarily regarding whether nutritional needs or developmental readiness should be prioritized in recommendations for starting complementary feeding. The aim of the present study was to analyze the timing of the start of complementary feeding and the related motivations with an 8-item online survey administered to active members of the Italian Society of Primary Care Pediatricians. The participation rate was 43.3% (350 of 808), and 213 (60.9%) and 137 (39.1%) of the participants chose items related to developmental readiness and nutritional needs, respectively, as the criteria for starting complementary feeding. Approximately 74% of the participants reported that they recommended starting complementary feeding between 5 and 6 months of age, 17% recommended starting before 5 months, and 8% recommended starting after 6 months. Predefined schemes were proposed by 38% of the participants, and a responsive feeding modality was proposed by 13%, while the majority (49%) recommended both modalities depending on family characteristics. Regarding recommendations based on nutritional needs, 89% of pediatricians reported providing indications concerning the quantity of meat consumed during the first year of life, and 91% reported recommending introducing added salt only after 12 months of age. Compared with pediatricians who emphasized developmental readiness, those who prioritized nutritional needs suggested earlier complementary feeding start and a higher use of predefined schemes and were more likely to make recommendations regarding meat quantity and added salt (p < 0.0001).Conclusions: Pediatricians who used a developmental readiness criterion for starting complementary feeding may less frequently provide nutritional advice to parents, even if a trend to harmonize the different positions regarding complementary feeding start time is emerging.What is Known:• Pediatricians make suggestions for introducing complementary feeding based on scientific evidence, local traditions, and personal beliefs.• Either infants' nutritional needs or their developmental readiness currently is used as determinant for the timing of complementary feeding.What is New:• More than 60% of Italian pediatricians consider developmental readiness a priority for introducing complementary feeding.• Pediatricians following the criterion of developmental readiness may less frequently give detailed nutritional advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]