A comparison between the feeding practices of parents and grandparents

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare mothers’ and grandparents’ feeding behaviours, the differences between the behaviours, the relationship between children’s feeding problems and grandparents’ feeding behaviours, as well as the relationship between grandparents’ feeding behaviour and children’s body mass index (BMI). This study prompts physicians to pay attention to the on feeding behaviours of grandmothers when evaluating the feeding problems and behaviours of children. This study is a controlled case study. Two hundred children (between 2 and 5 years of age) were included. Amongst these children, 150 of them were only fed by their mothers and 50 of them were fed by both their mother and grandmother. The feeding behaviour was evaluated by the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire (CFPQ).

Three domains emerged in this study:

Conclusion: There is limited research about grandmothers’ influence on child feeding. Research in grandmothers’ feeding behaviours may reveal key concerns in children feeding problems and in preventing childhood obesity.