Consulting on feeding and sleeping problems in child health care: what is at the bottom of advice to parents?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate and interpret ideas inherent in sleep and diet consultations concerning infants in Swedish child health services. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews of professionals employed in these services. A qualitative method with a phenomenological approach was applied to analyse the data. The results indicate that professionals have underlying conceptions. They considered that when parents force food on their child, this is a violation of the child’s integrity. This view is based on the idea that such actions restrict the child’s right to self-determination. In the participants’ opinions, when the child is forced to sleep well, this is not regarded as a violation of the child’s integrity, but is perceived as support of the child’s autonomy. An underlying theoretical view may be that parents’ time can be saved if the child becomes independent of the parents at as early an age as possible.