Maternal and paternal feeding dimensions and the use of food to soothe: an analysis of their association with toddlers’ BMI and sex

Previous literature suggests that feeding styles and practices, such as the use of food to soothe (FTS), may influence child outcomes, including their body max index (BMI). Most evidence, however, derives from studies focused on mothers, and little is known about the role of parental sex and child sex in this field. This study aims to explore a possible relationship between the use FTS and parental feeding style dimensions, and to analyse associations between the frequency of using specific types of FTS (e.g., bakeries, bread or milk) and children’s BMI and sex, while differentiating the results for fathers and mothers. In this Spanish cross-sectional study of toddlers, a questionnaire was used to obtain sociodemographic information –such as sex, age, annual income, education– from participants ( n = 774, 292 fathers), the Toddler Feeding Style Questionnaire to assess feeding dimensions, and single items for the use of FTS. Relationships between variables were analysed using Student’s t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests. The findings showed different patterns between mothers and fathers and the use of FTS. High maternal demandingness was associated with the use of FTS and with the use of more palatable foods. In fathers, low demandingness was associated with using fruit. The responsiveness dimension followed the same pattern for both mothers and fathers, with low levels being associated with the use of energy-dense foods. In terms of children’s characteristics, the only association found was that fathers were more likely to use bakery products with their daughters. This study suggest distinct patterns in FTS use between mothers and fathers. Demandingness played a differential role for each parent, whereas low responsiveness was similarly linked to the use of energy-dense foods in both parents. These results support previous literature suggesting differences in maternal and paternal feeding behaviours and highlight the importance of considering parental sex when examining feeding practices.