Parents’ descriptions of feeding their young infants

In this study, 29 parents of infants less than 6 months were asked to describe their infants’ feeding and their parental concerns about feeding. Parents frequently described concerns about feeding and many made changes to improve feeding. Characteristics of the infant (e.g., temperament), the task of feeding (e.g., milk flow), and factors external to the infant (e.g., breast anatomy) were described as affecting feeding. Some parents described feeling happy, calm, and bonded during feeding, while others described feeling terrified, anxious, and worried. Health care providers played an important role in supporting parents when feeding concerns existed, but sometimes provided conflicting and even unsafe feeding advice.

Authors: Britt Pados & Rebecca Hill

Publication information: Nursing for Women’s Health. 2019; 23(5): 404-413. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2019.08.001

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