Analysis of experts’ advice on feeding and eating for infants and toddlers in contemporary parenting magazines:

Abstract

This study examined experts’ advice on feeding and eating for infants and toddlers in parenting magazines applying content analysis. A total of 43 articles from two parenting magazines published from 2015 to 2019 related to feeding and eating for infants and toddlers were analyzed by focusing on the following four main themes: “child-centered,” “sensitive to mother’s needs,” “controlling” (limiting and being consistent), and “responsive” (warm, sensitive, and use of physical contact). The results showed that experts’ advice highly emphasized “child centered” (n=40, 93%), which values children’s individual differences and autonomy related to eating. The experts’ advice also stressed the importance of “sensitive to mother’s needs” (n=30, 70%), telling mothers not to worry too much and to seek support. Moreover, “controlling” and “responsive parenting styles” were identified in the experts’ advice (n=28, 65% and n=23, 54%, respectively). Finally, the results highlighted Japanese traditional parenting views, characterized as placing great value on the innate goodness of children and the proximal parenting style between mother and child.