Complementary Feeding Practices and Parental Pressure to Eat among Spanish Infants and Toddlers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Michelle Klerks, Sergio Roman, Maria Jose Bernal, Juan Francisco Haro-Vicente and Luis Manuel Sanchez-Siles
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Michelle Klerks: Hero Group, Research and Nutrition Department, 30820 Murcia, Spain
Sergio Roman: Marketing Department, Facultad de Economía y Empresa, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Maria Jose Bernal: Hero Group, Research and Nutrition Department, 30820 Murcia, Spain
Juan Francisco Haro-Vicente: Hero Group, Research and Nutrition Department, 30820 Murcia, Spain
Luis Manuel Sanchez-Siles: Hero Group, Research and Nutrition Department, 30820 Murcia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: The introduction of complementary foods is a crucial stage in the development and determination of infants’ health status in both the short and longer-term. This study describes complementary feeding practices among infants and toddlers in Spain. Also, relationships among sample characteristics (both parents and their child), feeding practices (timing, type of complementary food), and parental pressure to eat were explored. Cognitive interviewing with 18 parents was used to refine the survey questions. Responses from a national random sample of 630 parents, who were responsible for feeding their infants and toddlers aged 3–18 months, were obtained. Solids, often cereals and/or fruits first, were introduced at a median age of five months. Fish and eggs were introduced around the age of nine and ten months. Almost all children were fed with home-prepared foods at least once per week (93%), and in 36% of the cases, salt was added. Interestingly, higher levels of parental pressure to eat were found in female infants, younger parents, parents with a full-time job, the southern regions of Spain, and in infants who were not fed with home-prepared foods. Our insights underline the importance of clear feeding recommendations that can support health care professionals in promoting effective strategies to improve parental feeding practices.

Keywords: complementary feeding practices; home-prepared food; parental pressure to eat; health; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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