Table 1.

Sample interview questions in the India study, by formative research domain.

Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF)	Child Development (CD)	Correlates of IYCF and CD Behaviors
Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding 1.Breastfeeding/other milks: •Are you breast, formula or mixed feeding? (probe: why, why not; how long intend, how do you feel about breastfeeding?) 2.Introduction first foods: •What is the best age to begin giving other foods/fluids (in addition to infant formula/milk)? (probe: why, what food/fluids, at what age? Get lists and reasons) 3.Frequency of feeds: • Is it important to have a schedule or routine for feeding? Why/why not? • What happens to your schedule/routine (if any) when you must go out (to work, other venue)? How do you feel about that? Responsive Feeding 1. Cues - hunger/appetite/satiety: • How do you know when your infant is hungry? What happens? • Let's imagine that your child isn't accepting very much food you offer for 1-2 days, what should happen? (probe: pressure to eat; not concerned; talk w others, etc.) 2. Styles of feeding: • When do you think a child can begin to self-feed, at least some foods? • What are all the different ways a mother can encourage her child to eat? (probe: on strategies, such as helping, verbalization, role playing, pressuring etc.)	1.Local developmental milestones •When do you think babies should be able to: crawl, walk, turn over, eat with a spoon, eat alone, etc.? •Are there specific things a mother could or should do to be sure a baby develops 'on time' (or probe, does it not matter)? •Ethno-theories of development - on physical development, feeding behaviors (e.g., teeth, holding, grabbing, language), mouthing - benefits and costs. 2.Infant crying and management • Tell me about your baby's sleep patterns? (probe: sleeps well, sleeps through night, wakes often, sleeps with mom, own crib, own room, etc.) • What do you do to help your child sleep well? • Most babies cry sometimes. Why do you think babies cry? • What about your baby? When does your baby cry, how often, etc.? 3. Environmental factors • Where does the baby spend most of her time while in the house? What do you do with her? What does she do? (Opportunities for play in the house) • Do you take your baby outside? Where do you take her? What do you do with her? (Outside opportunities for play)	1.Multiple Caregivers: •Tell me about who takes care of your baby? When/how often? •Under what circumstances do others feed the baby? How do you feel about it? What about in daycare? 2.Advice and Experience: •Were you given advice about how to feed your baby? What was it? From whom? (Find out about peoples' ages, relation to respondent, etc.) •What advice did you keep? How do you know what to keep and what to ignore? 3. Meal Patterns: • Are there different patterns for different family members? If so why? 4. Maternal Diet and Activity pattern: • Do you think that how you eat influences what you feed baby? 5. Food Shopping Patterns: • Where are the main places you shop? How often do you shop? (probe: travel to shop) 6. Mother's Autonomy and health seeking behavior • How much of a say do you have in childcare – take the baby to the doctor, to allow baby to play with others, the foods that are being feed to the baby, etc. • What kind of permission do you require to carry out day-to-day activities related to household matters, other special occasions or festivities, to keep natal connection?

Source: Vazir S, Engle P, Balakrishna N, et al. Cluster-randomized trial on complementary and responsive feeding education to caregivers found improved dietary intake, growth and development among rural indian toddlers. Matern Child Nutr. 2013;9(1):99-117.