Associations between maternal and paternal feeding styles of infants in a racially diverse US birth cohort

Abstract

Summary Background Maternal feeding style has been associated with childhood obesity and has been the target of numerous interventions, but few studies included fathers. Objectives We assessed correlations and associations between maternal and paternal feeding style. Methods We examined 202 mothers, fathers, and infants in Nurture, a racially diverse US cohort (2013‐2017). Mothers and fathers completed the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire when infants were 6 and 12 months. We examined unadjusted correlations using Spearman's Rho and adjusted associations using linear regressions. Results All feeding styles were significantly correlated. After adjustment, maternal feeding style was associated with paternal feeding style at 6 and 12 months for responsive (ß 0.31; CI 0.18, 0.45; P ≤ 0.0001 and ß 0.67; CI 0.50, 0.84; P ≤ 0.0001), restrictive (ß 0.24; CI 0.09, 0.38; P = 0.001 and ß 0.44; CI 0.29, 0.59; P ≤ 0.0001), pressuring (ß 0.46; CI 0.34, 0.58; P ≤ 0.0001 and ß 0.51; CI 0.38, 065; P ≤ 0.0001), indulgent (ß 0.36; CI 0.20, 0.52; P ≤ 0.0001 and ß 0.57; CI 0.40, 0.73; P ≤ 0.0001), and laissez‐faire (ß 0.39; CI 0.24, 0.55; P ≤ 0.0001 and ß 0.55; CI 0.37, 0.72; P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions Maternal and paternal feeding styles were correlated. Associations held after adjustment, suggesting that mothers and fathers are in relative agreement in their reporting.

A Systematic Review of Research on Non-Maternal Caregivers’ Feeding of Children 0–3 Years

“…The remaining 16 studies included NMCs and mothers. Nine examined the two types of caregivers for similarities and differences [ 28 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 43 , 47 , 52 , 59 , 60 , 63 ]. The remaining seven studies examined the two types of caregivers as one group [ 23 , 27 , 32 , 39 , 41 , 53 , 55 ].…”

“…Two studies provided information on feeding styles, measured quantitatively. In their study of mothers and fathers of infants in the U.S., Benjamin-Neelon and Neelon [ 29 ] used the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire (IFSQ) [ 69 ] which measures five styles, one of which is the responsive style. They found that fathers scored higher than mothers on the pressuring and laissez-faire styles and maternal and paternal feeding styles were correlated.…”

“…With regard to measures of NMC feeding, some studies employed measures designed for mothers [ 28 , 29 , 34 ] or measures that were not validated because they were newly developed [ 39 , 57 ]. Dev et al [ 34 ] adapted and validated for child care workers a feeding practices measure originally designed for parents.…”