The dynamics of feeding during the introduction to solid food

In the first year of life, infants go through a crucial transition in feeding when they are introduced to solid food. However, the literature is lacking a good description of the changes in feeding behaviors during this transition. The current paper addresses this by means of a multiple case study focusing on how caretaker and infant build a new and effective feeding dialogue after the transition to solid food. It describes the development of stable interaction patterns, as they emerge during this transition. Feeding interactions are studied directly through repeated naturalistic observations. The results show that while the interaction behavior of some caretaker–infant dyads remains variable, others stabilize quickly. However, ultimately most dyads self-organize their behaviors towards a stable feeding dialogue, which is both sensitive and effective. Evidence for the existence of four characteristic patterns was found. We argue that this finding can be interpreted as the result of a co-regulation process of consensual frames. The study also offers a framework for analyzing other processes of co-regulation that occur throughout human development.

► The paper provides a description of the changing feeding interactions in infancy.
► The study focused on how caretaker and infant build a feeding dialogue at the introduction of solids.
► Feeding interactions are studied directly through repeated naturalistic observations.
► The interactions of most dyads stabilize quickly, while some remain variable.
► Evidence for the existence of four characteristic patterns was found.