Not just about food: attachments representations and maternal feeding practices in infancy

ABSTRACT

The present study examined maternal attachment contributions on infant feeding behavior. Feeding is central for the development of the caregiver–infant relationship with lasting effects for children’s health and self-regulation. Caregivers need to be attuned during feeding, so caregivers’ attachment likely influences their feeding practices. While pregnant, 116 mothers were administered the Adult Attachment Interview. They completed an assessment of infant temperament at 6 weeks. At 8 months, mother–infant dyads were videotaped during feeding and mothers completed a depression assessment. Mothers classified as preoccupied showed higher levels of feeding conflict and control and less dyadic reciprocity compared with dismissing or secure. Regression analyses revealed that both involving anger and passivity predicted control. Maternal depression moderated the effect that both involving anger and passivity had on control. Maternal unresolved trauma increased the risk that mother–infant dyads showed controlling behaviors during feeding, though was not related to conflict or attunement.

KEYWORDS:

• Adult attachment
• feeding
• mothers
• infants
• unresolved loss/abuse

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Noelia Garza for her enthusiasm and dedication during the coding phase of the feeding data. We also would like to thank the families who participated to the study and taught us so much about the emotional bonds between children and their parents.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.