Parental perceptions of feeding practices in five European countries: an exploratory study

Abstract

Objective: To gain an insight into parental perceptions of infant feeding practices in five European countries. Design: An exploratory investigation using focus group discussions. Various aspects addressed included social and cultural setting for the consumption of food, infant feeding practice and behaviour, consumer health awareness and sources of information, and attitudes towards a healthy infant diet. Setting: Focus group participants were recruited from centres in five countries, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Spain and Sweden, with three focus groups being conducted in each centre. Subjects: A total of 108 parents with infants up to the age of 12 months participated in focus group discussions across these centres. Methods: Focus groups were conducted with participants from centres in five countries. Results: The majority of parents in this study chose to initiate breastfeeding and prepare infant food at home. Parents did not strictly adhere to infant feeding guidelines when introducing complementary foods into their infant's diets. There were crosscultural differences in sources of information on infant feeding practice with the paediatrician in Germany, Italy and Spain. The health visitor in Scotland and the child welfare clinics in Sweden were the most popular sources. Conclusions: A number of cultural differences and similarities in attitudes towards infant feeding practice were revealed. This makes European wide approaches to promoting healthy infant feeding difficult as different infant feeding practices are influenced not only by parental perceptions but also by advice from health professionals and feeding guidelines. Further data need to be available on parents' attitudes and beliefs towards infant feeding practice to investigate further the rationale for differing beliefs and attitudes towards infant feeding practice.

A Qualitative Study of Mothers Perceptions of Weaning and the Use of Commercial Infant Food in the United Kingdom

“…This contrast in when to commence complementary feeding has previously been reported to vary by country [28][29][30]. A recent online questionnaire study of 3607 mothers, suggested that those who weaned early were more focused on putative signs of readiness, whereas those weaning later were more focused on the infant reaching the recommended age.…”

Reducing childhood obesity: opportunities to influence transitional infant feeding

“…127,131,139,222,224,227,228 As captured in Heinig et al's study 131 mothers had no preconceived plans around when to introduce solids ("I didn't really know exactly when [to introduce solids] or I really didn't know. I thought I'd just go off it when she gave me the cue.…”

“…177,220 Convenience and time pressure also influenced food choices, with quick meal choices that satisfied hunger winning out over healthier options. 228,233 While cost was found to influence food choices especially in low income families, 177,230,[233][234][235] food was also seen as a relatively inexpensive commodity that had immediate satiety effects.…”

“…This was especially evident in the relationship between hunger, crying and sleep, where mothers identified crying and/or inadequate sleep as markers of hunger. 131,139,200,[220][221][222]228,[230][231][232] Some mothers used feeding practices such as topping up with formula feeds or introducing solids as coping strategies to settle the child ("like comfort food. If you give a baby food they will eat it", p475 139 ) 200,223,228 or to avoid perceptions of spoiling by frequently picking up the unsettled child 223 rather than to relieve hunger.…”

“…177,220 Feeding was found to be an emotional journey, described by a range of feelings and related to many of the strategies outlined above to pacify the child. Some mothers were eager to start feeding solids and expressed pride in this achievement, 139,223,228 while others found the transition to solids a stressful experience. 221 Many mothers were concerned about their infant eating sufficient food with overfeeding a common solution.…”