Is Self-Feeding Related to Food Consumption and Observed Child Eating Behaviors in Infants and Toddlers?

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Child feeding can be challenging during the infant and toddler period when children are learning to eat complementary foods. We examined associations among children's eating behaviors, whether children were caregiver fed or self-fed, and children's intake of a novel food during two eating occasions in a laboratory setting. Methods Caregivers (n = 55, 96% mothers) were given an oatmeal/lipid nutrient supplement mixture to offer to their infants/toddlers (7–24 months; 27 boys) on 2 occasions (Baseline [V1] and after 2 weeks of home exposure [V2]). Visits were video-recorded and coded for positive (e.g., leaning in, reaching for the spoon) and negative (e.g., crying/fussing, refusals) child behaviors at V1 and V2. The number of child self-feeding attempts were coded at both visits and children were subsequently divided into 3 groups: Never (0 attempts), Sometimes (1–5 attempts), and Often self-feeds (6 + attempts). An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was performed for each visit to determine whether amounts consumed (g) differed by self-feeding group, controlling for child age (months) and number of home exposures (at V2 only). ANCOVA was also performed to determine whether child negative behaviors differed by self-feeding group, with age and number of home exposures as covariates. Results Observed positive behaviors had no significant association with consumption. At V1, age (F = 11.5, P = .001), but not self-feeding group (F = 2.5, P = .096), was significantly related to amounts consumed. After 2 weeks of home exposure (V2), amounts consumed varied by self-feeding group (F = 3.20, P = .049) with children in the Often self-feeding group consuming significantly more (36.0 ± 5.2 g) than children in the Never (P = .045; 22.2 ± 3.8 g) and Sometimes (P = .023; 19.2 ± 5.3 g) groups. Negative behaviors also differed by self-feeding group (F = 3.46, P = .039), with children in the Often group displaying fewer negative behaviors compared to children in the Sometimes group (P = .045), controlling for age and home-exposures. Conclusions Child self-feeding resulted in greater food consumption and fewer negative child behaviors. Enabling children to learn to self-feed may be an important component of improving food acceptance as well as child and caregiver feeding experiences during the challenging toddler period. Funding Sources Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.