Feeding and Activity Environments for Infants and Toddlers in Childcare Centers and Family Childcare Homes in Southeastern New England

Patricia Markham Risica (), Jacqueline M. Karpowicz, Tayla von Ash, Kim M. Gans, Kristen Cooksey-Stowers and Alison Tovar
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Patricia Markham Risica: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Jacqueline M. Karpowicz: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Tayla von Ash: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Kim M. Gans: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA
Kristen Cooksey-Stowers: Institute for Collaboration in Health, Interventions and Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Alison Tovar: Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Few studies have documented the food and physical activity (PA) environments of childcare settings caring for children <24 months of age, although they may be key contributors to developing child PA and diet patterns. We used an adapted Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation tool to assess the food and activity environments for infants and toddlers in childcare centers (n = 21) and family childcare homes (FCCH) (n = 20) and explored differences by childcare type. Many similarities were found between childcare site types; however, centers used more recommended feeding practices than FCCH (e.g., 100% of center providers talked with toddlers about feelings of hunger or fullness compared to 18% of family childcare providers (FCCP), p < 0.01). Differences in non-recommended feeding practices (e.g., spoon feeding, bottle propping and encouraging unhealthy foods) were mixed between childcare types. Toddlers in centers spent more time playing at higher PA levels than those in FCCH (61 vs. 13 min, p < 0.001). Screen time was observed in FCCH, but not in centers. Differences between childcare types may indicate differential influences on infant and toddler feeding and PA behaviors, which could predict disparate obesity risk. Future research should further observe these behaviors in a larger sample of centers and FCCH to inform childcare interventions and policies.

Keywords: infant; toddler; childcare; feeding; nutrition; physical activity; screen-time (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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