From store to home: Insights into parental baby snack choices

Feeding habits established during infancy play a significant role in shaping neural and physical development as well as future food preferences, emphasizing the importance of careful food selection during this time. This study examines the reasons driving parents' choices of commercial snacks for their infants amid growing concerns over their nutritional content. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 parents of infants and toddlers aged 6-18 months in Switzerland. Parents were also asked to show all the commercial snacks available at their homes that they provide to their infants and toddlers. Our interviews revealed that convenience was the primary criterion for selecting commercial baby, child, and adult snacks in general, with health considerations being of secondary importance. Nonetheless, some commercial baby snacks were perceived to provide additional health benefits. The safety of commercial baby snacks, particularly in terms of texture and ingredients, emerged as a key factor influencing their purchase, despite the higher costs. The analysis of 151 photographs of commercial snacks (N = 101 different snack products) present in participants' homes and intended for their infants and toddlers, combined with insights from the interviews, revealed that although several parents acknowledged the benefits of baby-specific snacks, they still frequently chose commercial snacks marketed for older children or adults for their infants and toddlers. Commercial snacks selected included 59 % infant, 17 % child, 25 % adult snacks. This behavior reflected a trade-off in parental selection criteria, influenced by practical factors, such as cost considerations and the perception that baby-specific snacks become less necessary as children grow. Our findings indicate that the food industry, policymakers, and healthcare professionals should work together to support parents in choosing age-appropriate snacks for infants and toddlers. Key actions may include making baby snacks more affordable, raising awareness of safety benefits, and ensuring clear, consistent labelling.