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

Although people other than mothers participate in feeding, few interventions include non-maternal caregivers, especially those promoting healthy development among children aged 0–3 years. Understanding the role and influence of non-maternal caregivers is essential for the development and effectiveness of early childhood feeding interventions; yet, no reviews have examined non-maternal caregivers of children aged 0–3 years. This study assessed what is known about non-maternal caregivers’ feeding of children aged 0–3. We systematically reviewed 38 empirical quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies, cataloged in PubMed and Web of Science and published between 1/2000–6/2021. The studies showed that non-maternal caregivers engage in child feeding and their attitudes and behaviors affect child outcomes. Like mothers, non-maternal caregivers vary in the extent to which their knowledge and attitudes support recommended feeding practices and the extent to which they exhibit responsive feeding styles and practices. Children of broad ages were included in the studies; future research should include infant/toddler-only samples to allow for better assessment of age-specific feeding constructs. The studies also revealed issues specific to non-maternal caregivers that are unlikely to be addressed in interventions developed for mothers. Thus, the review highlighted features of non-maternal caregiving of children 0–3 years that could be addressed to support feeding and child outcomes.

[1]  Alison Tovar,et al.  Involvement of Non-Parental Caregivers in Obesity Prevention Interventions among 0–3-Year-Old Children: A Scoping Review , 2022, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[2]  J. Kwan,et al.  Low-income mothers' perspectives on the involvement of family members in child feeding , 2021, Appetite.

[3]  N. Giuliani,et al.  Parent Gender Affects the Influence of Parent Emotional Eating and Feeding Practices on Child Emotional Eating , 2021, Frontiers in Psychology.

[4]  L. Mâsse,et al.  Are fathers’ and mothers’ food parenting practices differentially associated with children’s eating behaviors? , 2021, Appetite.

[5]  R. Gross,et al.  Grandparent coresidence and risk of early child overweight and obesity in low-income, Hispanic families in New York City.: Grandparent coresidence and child obesity risk. , 2021, Academic pediatrics.

[6]  B. Neelon,et al.  Associations between maternal and paternal feeding styles of infants in a racially diverse US birth cohort , 2020, Pediatric obesity.

[7]  E. Turner,et al.  The contribution of grandmother involvement to child growth and development: an observational study in rural Pakistan , 2020, BMJ Global Health.

[8]  M. Greaney,et al.  Brazilian immigrant fathers’ perspectives on child’s eating and feeding practices: a qualitative study conducted in the United States , 2020, Public Health Nutrition.

[9]  G. Chakona.  Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa , 2020, Nutrition Journal.

[10]  K. Campbell,et al.  Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Australian Trainee Childcare Educators Regarding Their Role in the Feeding Behaviours of Young Children , 2020, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[11]  T. Baranowski,et al.  Cultural adaptation of ‘Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids’ for Hispanic families: applying the ecological validity model , 2020, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[12]  A. Devine,et al.  Sharing is Caring: A Study of Food-Sharing Practices in Australian Early Childhood Education and Care Services , 2020, Nutrients.

[13]  N. Hazen,et al.  Fathers’ attachment representations and infant feeding practices , 2019, Appetite.

[14]  X. Sim,et al.  Feeding-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Grandparents in Singapore , 2019, Nutrients.

[15]  Blair T. Johnson,et al.  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in the health sciences: Best practice methods for research syntheses. , 2019, Social science & medicine.

[16]  Raymond H. Lévy,et al.  Engaging Fathers in Early Obesity Prevention During the First 1,000 Days: Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change Strategies , 2019, Obesity.

[17]  K. Widaman,et al.  The Sociocultural Factors Underlying Latina Mothers’ Infant Feeding Practices , 2019, Global qualitative nursing research.

[18]  A. Lindenmeyer,et al.  A qualitative insight into informal childcare and childhood obesity in children aged 0–5 years in the UK , 2018, BMC Public Health.

[19]  D. Ward,et al.  Modifying the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) to better capture feeding practices of family childcare home providers , 2018, Public Health Nutrition.

[20]  A. Thompson,et al.  Contributions of nonmaternal caregivers to infant feeding in a low‐income African‐American sample , 2018, Maternal & child nutrition.

[21]  E. Özmert,et al.  A comparison between the feeding practices of parents and grandparents , 2018, European Journal of Pediatrics.

[22]  S. Rozelle,et al.  Do Infant Feeding Practices Differ Between Grandmothers and Mothers in Rural China? Evidence From Rural Shaanxi Province , 2018, Family & community health.

[23]  T. Ahmed,et al.  Caregiver perceptions of children’s linear growth in Bangladesh: a qualitative analysis , 2018, Public Health Nutrition.

[24]  Qian Lin,et al.  Effect of a Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Nutritional Knowledge and Food Practices among Caregivers of 3–5-Year-Old Left-Behind Children in the Rural Hunan Province , 2018, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[25]  Ansuya,et al.  Risk factors for malnutrition among preschool children in rural Karnataka: a case-control study , 2018, BMC Public Health.

[26]  I. Hoffman,et al.  Infant and Young Child Feeding Decision Making and Practices: Malawian Mothers’ and Fathers’ Roles in the Context of HIV , 2018, Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association.

[27]  Qinying He,et al.  Childhood obesity in China: Does grandparents' coresidence matter? , 2018, Economics and human biology.

[28]  S. Thoyre,et al.  A Qualitative Study of Social, Cultural, and Historical Influences on African American Women’s Infant-Feeding Practices , 2018, The Journal of Perinatal Education.

[29]  Mu Li,et al.  Perceptions of overweight by primary carers (mothers/grandmothers) of under five and elementary school-aged children in Bandung, Indonesia: a qualitative study , 2017, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[30]  S. Kadiyala,et al.  Grandmothers’ knowledge positively influences maternal knowledge and infant and young child feeding practices , 2017, Public Health Nutrition.

[31]  A. Hörnell,et al.  Water, juice, or soda? Mothers and grandmothers of preschoolers discuss the acceptability and accessibility of beverages , 2017, Appetite.

[32]  B. Koletzko,et al.  Nutrition of infants and young children (one to three years) and its effect on later health: A systematic review of current recommendations (EarlyNutrition project) , 2017, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition.

[33]  C. Braet,et al.  Erratum to: Perceived effective and feasible strategies to promote healthy eating in young children: focus groups with parents, family child care providers and daycare assistants , 2017, BMC Public Health.

[34]  S. Segura-Pérez,et al.  Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers: A Responsive Parenting Approach , 2017 .

[35]  K. Davison,et al.  Fathers' Perspectives on Coparenting in the Context of Child Feeding. , 2016, Childhood obesity.

[36]  C. Braet,et al.  Perceived effective and feasible strategies to promote healthy eating in young children: focus groups with parents, family child care providers and daycare assistants , 2016, BMC Public Health.

[37]  C. Raynes-Greenow,et al.  The influence of grandmothers on breastfeeding rates: a systematic review , 2016, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

[38]  A. Guerrero,et al.  Father Involvement in Feeding Interactions with Their Young Children. , 2016, American journal of health behavior.

[39]  J. Warren-Findlow,et al.  Perceived Infant Feeding Preferences of Significant Family Members and Mothers’ Intentions to Exclusively Breastfeed , 2015, Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association.

[40]  M. Bair-Merritt,et al.  Maternal Report of Advice Received for Infant Care , 2015, Pediatrics.

[41]  M. Gillman,et al.  Child Care Provider Adherence to Infant and Toddler Feeding Recommendations: Findings from the Baby Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Baby NAP SACC) Study. , 2015, Childhood obesity.

[42]  C. Chantry,et al.  ‘Life does not make it easy to breast-feed’: using the socio-ecological framework to determine social breast-feeding obstacles in a low-income population in Tijuana, Mexico , 2015, Public Health Nutrition.

[43]  Svetlana K. Eden,et al.  The Relationship Between Acculturation and Infant Feeding Styles in a Latino Population , 2014, Obesity.

[44]  Katherine E. Speirs,et al.  Predictors of head start and child-care providers' healthful and controlling feeding practices with children aged 2 to 5 years. , 2014, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

[45]  Svetlana K. Eden,et al.  Racial and Ethnic Differences Associated With Feeding- and Activity-Related Behaviors in Infants , 2014, Pediatrics.

[46]  P. Scuffham,et al.  Dads at the dinner table. A cross-sectional study of Australian fathers’ child feeding perceptions and practices , 2014, Appetite.

[47]  P. Scuffham,et al.  The role of fathers in child feeding: perceived responsibility and predictors of participation. , 2013, Child: care, health and development.

[48]  A. Siega-Riz,et al.  Who’s feeding baby? Non-maternal involvement in feeding and its association with dietary intakes among infants and toddlers , 2013, Appetite.

[49]  J. Lanigan.  The relationship between practices and child care providers' beliefs related to child feeding and obesity prevention. , 2012, Journal of nutrition education and behavior.

[50]  M. Whittaker,et al.  Child-care and feeding practices of urban middle class working and non-working Indonesian mothers: a qualitative study of the socio-economic and cultural environment. , 2012, Maternal & child nutrition.

[51]  Susan L. Johnson,et al.  Child Care Provider Training and a Supportive Feeding Environment in Child Care Settings in 4 States, 2003 , 2011, Preventing chronic disease.

[52]  M. Gillman,et al.  Timing of Solid Food Introduction and Risk of Obesity in Preschool-Aged Children , 2011, Pediatrics.

[53]  M. Gillman.  Early infancy – a critical period for development of obesity a , 2010, Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.

[54]  K. Alvarez,et al.  Early childhood feeding: assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices of multi-ethnic child-care providers. , 2010, Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

[55]  M. Chiasson,et al.  Evaluating a Bilingual Video to Improve Infant Feeding Knowledge and Behavior Among Immigrant Latina Mothers , 2010, Journal of Community Health.

[56]  Katherine F. Kavanagh,et al.  Roles, perceptions and control of infant feeding among low-income fathers , 2009, Public Health Nutrition.

[57]  C. Zimmer,et al.  Development and validation of the Infant Feeding Style Questionnaire , 2009, Appetite.

[58]  E. Finkelstein,et al.  Annual medical spending attributable to obesity: payer-and service-specific estimates. , 2009, Health affairs.

[59]  J. Ioannidis,et al.  The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions : Explanation and Elaboration , 2009 .

[60]  J. Worobey,et al.  Maternal behavior and infant weight gain in the first year. , 2009, Journal of nutrition education and behavior.

[61]  B. Koletzko,et al.  Can infant feeding choices modulate later obesity risk? , 2009, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[62]  K. Peterson,et al.  Association of infant child care with infant feeding practices and weight gain among US infants. , 2008, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[63]  Melissa A. Barnett.  Economic Disadvantage in Complex Family Systems: Expansion of Family Stress Models , 2008, Clinical child and family psychology review.

[64]  Jiang Jing-xiong,et al.  Influence of grandparents on eating behaviors of young children in Chinese three-generation families , 2007, Appetite.

[65]  J. Blissett,et al.  Maternal and paternal controlling feeding practices with male and female children , 2006, Appetite.

[66]  Daniel J Feaster,et al.  Increasing Minority Research Participation Through Community Organization Outreach , 2006, Western journal of nursing research.

[67]  M. Petticrew,et al.  Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide , 2005 .

[68]  M. Arndt,et al.  "Eating-together" mealtimes with African-American fathers and their toddlers. , 2005, Applied nursing research : ANR.

[69]  S. Hoerr,et al.  Nutrition Education Aimed at Toddlers: A Pilot Program for Rural, Low‐Income Families , 2004, Family & community health.

[70]  C. Tamis-LeMonda,et al.  Low‐income adolescent mothers' knowledge about domains of child development , 2002 .

[71]  Susan L. Johnson,et al.  Confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire: a measure of parental attitudes, beliefs and practices about child feeding and obesity proneness , 2001, Appetite.