Latinx Grandparents' Child Feeding Practices and Interaction with Parents

Fam Consum Sci Res J. 2024 Mar;52(3):213-225. doi: 10.1111/fcsr.12504. Epub 2024 Feb 5.

Abstract

Despite Latinx grandparents' substantial involvement in child rearing, there is limited understanding of their child feeding practices. A survey examined 80 Latinx mothers' perception of Latinx grandparents' feeding practices and interaction with parents. Results showed grandparents engaged in positive feeding somewhat frequently and negative feeding somewhat infrequently. Mother-grandparent disagreement and grandparent-parent(s) communication on child feeding occurred at a moderate level of frequency. Mother-grandparent disagreement was associated with higher frequency of grandparents' negative feeding, while grandparent-parent(s) communication was associated with higher frequency of positive feeding by grandparents. Finally, grandparents' behaviors and practices varied depending on characteristics of grandparents, mothers, and children.

Keywords: Grandparent; Latinx/Latino/Latina/Hispanic; child; feeding practices; mother.