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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Appetite. 2013 Feb 16;65:210–219. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.02.010

Table 1.

Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues Scale Variable Definitions and Scoringa

Variable Scoring
General Responsiveness During Feedingb
Visual Attentiveness: Looking at or in the direction of the caregiver/child 5=Very
4=Fairly
Positive Expressiveness: Vocalizations (e.g. babbling, talking) and /or
non-verbal expressions (e.g. clapping, patting) of an affirmative,
affectionate, and/or delighted tone or nature
3=Somewhat
2=Not Very
1=Not at all
Negative Expressiveness (reverse-coded): Vocalizations (e.g. fussing) and
/or non-verbal expressions (e.g. hitting, kicking) of a negative, distressed,
punitive, and/or forceful tone or nature
Relaxed Physical Disposition: Combination of relaxed posture, quiet
movements during feeding (e.g. molding to caregiver’s body)
Child Feeding Cues
Hunger (4 early, 13 active, 3 late cues): Coded from the beginning of the
observation until 1 minute following the first bite
Presence (and
frequency) vs.
Absence
Fullness (9 early, 15 active, 4 late cues): Coded from the beginning of
food preparation until food/infant was removed from feeding location
Caregiver Responsiveness to Child Feeding Cues
Hunger Cues: The latency of the caregiver’s feeding response to child
hunger cues. Rated based on the type (e.g. early, active, late) of hunger
cues observed from the beginning of the observation until food preparation
or placing child in feeding position
5=Highly
4=Responsive
3=Somewhat
2=Not very
1=Not at all
Receptiveness to Being Fed: The response of the caregiver to child hunger
and fullness cues observed from the beginning of food preparation or
placing child in feeding position until 1 minute following the first food to
mouth contact.
Fullness Cues: The latency of the caregiver’s feeding response to child
fullness cues. Rated based on the type (e.g. early, active, late) of fullness
cues observed 1 minute after the first food to mouth contact up to the time
at which the food or child was removed from feeding location—whichever
came first.
a

The full instrument including coding sheets and definitions may be obtained by request to the first (EAH) or corresponding (JOF) author

b

Scored separately for mother and child