Feeding Sensitivity at 3-Months Predicts Parental Feeding Style at 3-Years

John Worobey

doi:10.6000/1929-4247.2018.07.04.5

Authors

John Worobey Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, 26 Nichol Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2018.07.04.5

Keywords:

Feeding style, parenting style, responsive feeding, authoritative parenting, BMI.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the association between maternal responsive feeding in infancy and later parental feeding style in childhood, with a secondary aim of linking parenting style to child weight status

Design: Short-term, longitudinal study

Subjects: 65 mother-infant pairs, followed from 3-months to 3-years

Methods: Mother-child dyads were seen at enrollment, observed at home when the infant was 3-months-old, and at home again when the infant turned 2-years of age. When the child reached 3-years, mothers self-reported their feeding style.

Results: Responsive maternal feeding at 3-months predicted an authoritative feeding style at 3-years, and the authoritative feeding style was associated with a healthier weight status.

Conclusion: Responsive feeding in infancy may serve as the foundation for responsive feeding in childhood and may serve to help in reducing obesity risk

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