Perspectives on infant and young child feeding: A review of the literature

Appropriate nutrition is vital for health and development in the early years, but evidence suggests that the diet of many infants and young children is poor, based on calorie-dense foods lacking in nutrients. As early feeding practices may be linked with child weight and future food preferences, perspectives on these are of interest. Parental concerns regarding a child's weight or perceived low appetite may influence suboptimal feeding practices, and restrictive or controlling feeding practices may predict a child's future dietary behaviours. This review summarises current evidence regarding the perspectives of parents and health professionals on infant and young child feeding. The search identified 2274 studies, of which 10 were eligible. Three themes were identified in the literature: controlling feeding practices; the early introduction of solid foods; and parental anxiety about feeding. The findings suggest infant and young child feeding represents a challenging aspect of parenting, and that further research into the training needs of health professionals may be appropriate.