Parent Feeding Practices and Child Variables Associated with Childhood Feeding Problems

The present study identifies dimensions of feeding practices used by parents of children referred for feeding problems. These dimensions were derived from parent reported use of 17 feeding practices. This study compares these parent dimensions with child variables (age, gender, diagnosis of autism, medical conditions) as predictors of three measures of feeding problems: weight status, diet variety, and mealtime behavior problems. Participants included a clinical sample of 240 children with feeding problems. Results indicated that only child variables predicted weight status, while both dimensions of parent feeding practices and child variables predicted diet variety and mealtime behavior problems.