Responsive Feeding Environments in Childcare Settings: A Scoping Review of the Factors Influencing Implementation and Sustainability

Jessie-Lee D. McIsaac (), Madison MacQuarrie, Rachel Barich, Sarah Morris, Joan C. Turner and Melissa D. Rossiter
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Jessie-Lee D. McIsaac: Department of Child and Youth Study, Faculty of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6, Canada
Madison MacQuarrie: Department of Child and Youth Study, Faculty of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6, Canada
Rachel Barich: Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
Sarah Morris: Department of Child and Youth Study, Faculty of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6, Canada
Joan C. Turner: Department of Child and Youth Study, Faculty of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6, Canada
Melissa D. Rossiter: Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada

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

Abstract: Children benefit from responsive feeding environments, where their internal signals of hunger and satiety are recognized and met with prompt, emotionally supportive and developmentally appropriate responses. Although there is existing research on responsive feeding environments in childcare, there is little synthesized literature on the implementation practices using a behavior change framework. This scoping review sought to explore the factors influencing the implementation and sustainability of responsive feeding interventions in the childcare environment, using the behavior change wheel (BCW). A total of 3197 articles were independently reviewed and 39 met the inclusion criteria. A thematic analysis identified the factors influencing the implementation and sustainability of responsive feeding, including the following: (1) pre-existing nutrition policies, (2) education and training, (3) provider beliefs and confidence, (4) partnership development and stakeholder engagement and (5) resource availability. The most common BCW intervention functions were education (n = 39), training (n = 38), environmental restructuring (n = 38) and enablement (n = 36). The most common policy categories included guidelines (n = 39), service provision (n = 38) and environmental/social planning (n = 38). The current literature suggests that broader policies are important for responsive feeding, along with local partnerships, training and resources, to increase confidence and efficacy among educators. Future research should consider how the use of a BCW framework may help to address the barriers to implementation and sustainability.

Keywords: early childhood; responsive feeding; nutrition; implementation; behavior change (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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