Understanding Parenting Styles in Feeding Therapy

As feeding therapists, we work closely with caregivers and parents. Perhaps our biggest success in feeding intervention is helping a parent be able to feed their child. One way we do this is to help caregivers understand their child’s cues and how to respond appropriately in the arena of feeding. When a child refuses to eat, gags with non-preferred foods, or is struggling, it is understandable that it can be difficult to know how best to respond. Therapists can help guide this discussion.

As a therapist, understanding parenting styles can be helpful when creating a treatment plan and using strategies that align with a parents values. I would like to share an example of one of my clients. Long before I knew much about parenting styles, I worked with a toddler who was struggling to progress with feeding solids to the point of losing weight. I am simplifying the story but I believed that part of the reason he struggled was that he was breastfeeding on demand, frequently throughout the day and night. When I suggested 2 blocks of time during the day for exposure and opportunity to eat solids without access to the breast, I was met with resistance. Not long after, his family stopped coming to see me. I feel that while my suggestion might have helped, it didn’t align with the caregivers parenting style and desires. To this day, I wish I had had a conversation about my recommendations before making them. Had I talked with his mother first about her feelings of nourishing her child, I might have been more successful with helping them. I learned from that experience.

I would like to share this simple handout out on parenting styles with web resources and references if you want to explore further. Please feel free to use this or adjust it to meet the needs if your practice.