Parent-reported feeding practices associated with children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods in childcare

Abstract

Feeding behaviours are established early in life, with lifelong influences on children's appetite, growth and health, emphasizing the importance of understanding how parent-child feeding interactions relate to children's eating and growth patterns. The objective was to examine reciprocity between parent-reported feeding practices and children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods in childcare settings without parental presence, thereby assessing independence from context and parental influence. The sample included parent-child dyads (n = 436) recruited from 51 childcare centres across 10 counties. Parent-reported feeding practices, children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods and children's height and weight were measured using the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ), a food tasting activity and standardized anthropometric protocols, respectively. Logistic and linear regression models assessed associations between parent-reported feeding practices and children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods, as well as body mass index z-score (BMIz), respectively. All models adjusted for potential confounders, including clustering within childcare centres. Children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods was positively associated with parent-reported restriction for weight control, suggesting independence from context. A child-driven interpretation suggests parental perceptions of children's high food responsivity or concerns about excess weight gain and a parent-driven interpretation suggests that children exhibit higher willingness-to-try-new-foods in response to parental weight-related restriction. Children's observed willingness-to-try-new-foods was not related to other parent-reported feeding practices. Child BMIz was positively associated with parent-reported restriction for weight and health and negatively associated with pressuring and giving children control over food intake. Future research is needed to determine factors associated with child and parent-driven interpretations of feeding practices and effective strategies to promote responsive parent feeding practices.