Complementary Feeding Methods: Associations with Feeding and Emotional Responsiveness.
Carla Fernandes1, Fátima Martins2, Ana F Santos1
1William James Center Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 29, 2023
Summary
Introducing complementary foods is vital for infant development. Parents using Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) or both methods reported less feeding pressure and fewer negative emotional reactions compared to Traditional Spoon-Feeding (TSF) users.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Nutrition Science
- Parenting Studies
Background:
- Complementary feeding is a critical infant developmental stage.
- Traditional Spoon-Feeding (TSF) is common, but Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) is gaining popularity due to associated positive outcomes.
- Research linking complementary feeding methods with responsive parenting is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in emotional and feeding responsiveness between caregivers using traditional versus non-traditional complementary feeding approaches.
- To explore the relationship between feeding methods and parental responses to children's emotions.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 179 caregivers of children aged 3-5 years.
- Caregivers reported on their prior complementary feeding methods (TSF, BLW, or both).
- Validated questionnaires assessed feeding practices and responses to children's negative emotions.
Main Results:
- Caregivers using non-traditional methods (BLW or both) reported less feeding pressure compared to TSF users.
- Parents employing non-traditional methods showed fewer minimized reactions to children's negative emotions.
- TSF users reported more problem-focused reactions to children's distress.
Conclusions:
- Complementary feeding methods may be associated with responsive parenting styles.
- Non-traditional feeding approaches might foster more responsive interactions regarding feeding and emotions.
- Further research is needed to determine the causal relationship between feeding methods and responsive parenting.
Keywords:
baby-led weaningcomplementary feedingemotion regulationfeeding practicesparental responsivenessweaningMore Related Videos
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