This observation tool serves as a resource for home visiting or other Head Start staff working with families in the home to help them observe effectively for parent and child responsive feeding behaviors in the home environment. Observations can be shared with parents to validate current practices and parent and child strengths. Learn how to identify opportunities for future goals around responsive feeding and healthy mealtime practices.
Environment
- Ensures that feeding environment is pleasant with few distractions
- Ensures that the child is seated comfortably, ideally facing others to allow for eye contact among family members
- Avoids screen use during mealtimes
Behavior
- Models healthy eating habits by making healthy choices
- Has conversations about food and/or encourages the child verbally during mealtimes
Preparation
- Ensures that food is healthy, tasty, and developmentally appropriate
- Offers food on a predictable schedule
Reads and Responds to Child Cues
- Encourages and observes the child’s signals of hunger and satiety (i.e., fullness)
- Responds to the child’s feeding needs in a prompt, emotionally supportive, and developmentally appropriate manner
- If the child refuses many foods, experiments with different food combinations, tastes, textures, and methods of encouragement
- Does not pressure the child to eat or finish the food served to them
- Avoids intrusive attempts at direct feeding (i.e., force-feeding, holding the child’s head, and threatening or shaking the child)
Age Range | Parent/Caregiver Behavior | Child Behavior |
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Birth to 6 months |
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6 to 12 months |
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1 to 3 years |
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References:
Harbron, J., S. Booley, B. Najaar, C.E. Day. "Responsive Feeding: Establishing Healthy Eating Behaviour Early on in Life," South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 26(3), (2013): S141–S149.
"Starting Solid Foods." Healthy Children/American Academy of Pediatrics. (Jan. 16, 2018). Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Starting-Solid-Foods.aspx
"Is Your Baby Hungry or Full? Responsive Feeding Explained." Healthy Children/American Academy of Pediatrics." (Sept. 1, 2017). Retrieved from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Is-Your-Baby-Hungry-or-Full-Responsive-Feeding-Explained.aspx
"Responsive Feeding – Set Your Baby Up for Healthy Growth and Development." Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight/American Academy of Pediatrics. (Aug. 24, 2017). Retrieved from https://ihcw.aap.org/Pages/EFHALF_parents.aspx
McNally, J. et al. "Communicating Hunger and Satiation in the First 2 Years of Life: A Systematic Review." Maternal and Child Nutrition, 12(2), (2015): 205–228.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Feeding Infants and Toddlers: Using the Latest Evidence in Child Care Settings. Princeton, NJ, May 2017. Retrieved from: https://healthyeatingresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/her_ece_051817-FINAL.pdf
Last Updated: June 2, 2020