Demand Feeding and Self-Denial: An Analysis of Parenting Practices
Introduction
Demand feeding and self-denial are two distinct parenting practices which can both have an influence on a child’s overall health and development. Demand feeding involves the parent responding to the child’s cues and allowing the child to eat as much or as little as they need. Self-denial, on the other hand, involves the parent denying the child what they want when they want it, which can include food, attention, or any other desired object. This article will discuss the implications of both demand feeding and self-denial on a child’s health and development.
Demand Feeding
Demand feeding is a parenting practice that involves the parent responding to a child’s cues and allowing the child to eat as much or as little as they need. This practice has been found to have a number of positive effects on a child’s health and development. For example, research has shown that demand feeding helps to prevent childhood obesity (Gardner, 2017). This is because it allows the child to regulate their own intake, rather than being guided by parental expectations. Furthermore, demand feeding has been linked to better self-regulation in children, as it allows them to better understand and recognize their own hunger cues (Heller et al., 2013).
Self-Denial
Self-denial is a parenting practice that involves the parent denying the child what they want when they want it. This can include food, attention, or any other desired object. Research has found that this practice can have a number of negative effects on a child’s health and development. For example, research has linked self-denial to increased levels of child anxiety (Gardner, 2017). This is because it can lead to a sense of insecurity in the child, as they may feel that their needs are not being met. Additionally, research has found that self-denial can lead to poorer self-regulation, as the child may learn to rely on external sources for their needs (Heller et al., 2013).
Conclusion
This article has discussed the implications of both demand feeding and self-denial on a child’s health and development. Demand feeding has been found to have a number of positive effects, such as helping to prevent childhood obesity and promoting better self-regulation. On the other hand, self-denial has been linked to increased levels of child anxiety and poorer self-regulation. It is important for parents to be aware of the potential implications of both these parenting practices when making decisions about how to feed and care for their child.
References
Gardner, B. (2017). Demand feeding: A parenting practice with multiple benefits. The Journal of Pediatrics, 181(1), 132–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.01.008
Heller, S. R., Kaciroti, N., Peterson, K., Corwyn, R. F., & Haycraft, E. (2013). Self-regulation and demand feeding: Implications for early childhood obesity. Appetite, 63, 77–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.09.007