Child-feeding Practices and Child Overweight Perceptions of Family Day Care Providers Caring for Preschool-aged Children

Abstract 

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes, feeding practices, and child overweight perceptions of family day-care providers caring for preschool-aged children and to examine whether child feeding practices differ based on child weight perceptions.

Method

One hundred twenty-three family day-care providers participated in this cross-sectional exploratory study and completed a self-administered survey measuring feeding attitudes and practices from the Child Feeding Questionnaire, demographic information, and self-reported height and weight. Participants selected a cut point to identify childhood overweight using male and female child figure drawings.

Results

Participants reported a high level of responsibility in feeding and monitoring of children's food intake. Differences were found in child feeding practices between family day-care providers based on their child weight perceptions for girls. Providers who selected the smaller girl figures as the cut point for overweight were more concerned about the children becoming overweight and used more restriction in child feeding compared with the providers who selected the larger girl figures.

Discussion

Health professionals should continue working with this population to promote positive feeding environments.

Key Words: Childcare providers, child-feeding practices, child overweight, perceptions