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Vliet, M.S. van (2022)

Mealtime interactions: the role of sensitive parental feeding behavior in the first years of life

Doctoral Thesis
Promoting healthy eating habits from infancy onwards is essential, in order to prevent children from developing unhealthy eating behavior and becoming overweight. Next to studying the role of the type of food we should feed our children (What), more and more studies emphasize the importance of a positive and sensitive parent-child interaction during the meal (How). The aim of the present dissertation was to examine the relation between sensitive parental feeding behavior and health outcomes in infants and toddlers up to 24 months. Within the overarching Baby’s First Bites RCT study, 246 mother-infant pairs participated. Most important findings of the dissertation include that mothers showed less sensitive behavior during mealtimes with their toddler, than during a play session. Moreover, our video-feedback intervention VIPP-Feeding Infants was found to promote sensitive maternal feeding behavior, but only on short term. Non-results may be explained by our...Show morePromoting healthy eating habits from infancy onwards is essential, in order to prevent children from developing unhealthy eating behavior and becoming overweight. Next to studying the role of the type of food we should feed our children (What), more and more studies emphasize the importance of a positive and sensitive parent-child interaction during the meal (How). The aim of the present dissertation was to examine the relation between sensitive parental feeding behavior and health outcomes in infants and toddlers up to 24 months. Within the overarching Baby’s First Bites RCT study, 246 mother-infant pairs participated. Most important findings of the dissertation include that mothers showed less sensitive behavior during mealtimes with their toddler, than during a play session. Moreover, our video-feedback intervention VIPP-Feeding Infants was found to promote sensitive maternal feeding behavior, but only on short term. Non-results may be explained by our generally high-performing sample, as well as by the emerging picky eating phase that is likely to occur in many children during toddlerhood. Future studies should aim to test our intervention programs in families at risk, such as children with high levels of picky eating behavior or low levels of vegetable intake, or families in lower SEP neighborhoods.Show less
Responsive feeding
Sensitive feeding
Parental sensitivity
Feeding interactions
Family meal
Child eating behavior
Vegetables
Self-regulation of energy intake
Infant
Toddler
All authors
Vliet, M.S. van
Supervisor
Mesman, J.
Co-supervisor
Veek, S.M.C. van der; Vereijken, C.
Committee
Kremers, S.; Seidell, J.; Juffer, F.; Vermeer, H.J.; Larsen, J.
Qualification
Doctor (dr.)
Awarding Institution
Leiden Institute of Education and Child Studies, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
Date
2022-06-15
ISBN (print)
9789464238389