Development of an Individualized Responsive Feeding Intervention-Learning Early Infant Feeding Cues: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Maternal and Child Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Responsive infant feeding, recognizing and responding to infant hunger/satiety cues, promotes healthy growth and is recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Caregiver challenges in recognizing infant cues and barriers to responsive feeding necessitate further research and intervention.
• The Learning Early Infant Feeding Cues (LEIFc) intervention aims to address these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility and fidelity of the LEIFc intervention using a validated coaching approach (SS-OO-PP-RR).
• To guide the refinement of the LEIFc intervention for future implementation.
• To promote responsive infant feeding practices among mother-infant dyads.

Main Methods:

• A pre-post quasi-experimental study design with 30 mother-infant dyads recruited in their third trimester.
• The LEIFc intervention, utilizing the SS-OO-PP-RR coaching model, was delivered at 2 and 3 months postpartum.
• Data collection included subjective surveys and objective video recordings of infant feeding cues and maternal responses, alongside infant measurements.

Main Results:

• The study was initiated in spring 2020 but halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with data collection resuming in April 2022.
• Quantitative and qualitative data on intervention feasibility, fidelity, and effectiveness are being collected and analyzed.

Conclusions:

• The LEIFc intervention, after refinement, will be evaluated in a pilot randomized controlled trial.
• The long-term objective is to integrate LEIFc into maternal-child home visiting programs to support vulnerable populations.
• Improving responsive infant feeding practices is crucial for aligning infant feeding with health recommendations.