Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility (sDOR) in Feeding

Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility (sDOR) in feeding is a widely recognized approach to child feeding that aims to foster healthy eating habits and positive mealtime experiences. This evidence-based model delineates the roles of parents and children in the feeding relationship, with important implications for infants and toddlers. This article will explore the core principles of sDOR, its benefits, strategies for implementation, and practical examples.

Core Principles of sDOR

The fundamental premise of sDOR is that parents and children have distinct responsibilities in the feeding process^[1][2]. For parents, these responsibilities include:

1. Choosing and preparing appropriate foods
2. Providing regular meals and snacks
3. Creating pleasant eating environments
4. Modeling appropriate mealtime behavior
5. Being considerate of children’s food preferences without catering to them
6. Limiting food and beverages (except water) between scheduled meal and snack times

Children, on the other hand, are responsible for:

1. Deciding whether to eat
2. Determining how much to eat
3. Learning to eat the foods their parents enjoy
4. Growing in a way that is right for them
5. Learning appropriate mealtime behavior

For infants, sDOR recommends feeding on demand, allowing the baby to determine the timing and pace of feeding^[2]. As children develop and their eating patterns become more regular, parents gradually take on responsibility for when and where feeding occurs.

Benefits of sDOR for Infants and Toddlers

Implementing sDOR can lead to several positive outcomes for infants and toddlers:

1. Improved self-regulation: By allowing children to determine how much they eat, sDOR supports the development of internal regulation of food intake^[4].
2. Reduced feeding problems: The clear division of responsibilities can help prevent and resolve common feeding issues^[2].
3. Positive eating attitudes: sDOR promotes a healthy relationship with food, potentially reducing the risk of disordered eating later in life^[1].
4. Appropriate growth: Trusting children to eat the amount they need supports healthy growth patterns^[2].
5. Enhanced mealtime behavior: By modeling and consistently implementing mealtime structure, children learn appropriate behavior at the table^[2].
6. Increased food acceptance: Offering a variety of foods without pressure can lead to greater food acceptance over time^[1].

Strategies for Implementing sDOR

To effectively implement sDOR with infants and toddlers, parents can employ the following strategies:

1. Establish regular meal and snack times: This helps create a predictable eating routine for young children^[2].
2. Offer a variety of nutritious foods: Present a range of healthy options at each meal, including some familiar foods^[1].
3. Allow self-feeding: Encourage infants and toddlers to feed themselves as their skills develop^[2].
4. Avoid pressure or coercion: Refrain from forcing children to eat or using rewards/punishments related to food^[1].
5. Create a positive mealtime atmosphere: Make mealtimes pleasant and free from distractions like TV^[2].
6. Trust your child’s appetite: Respect your child’s hunger and fullness cues^[4].
7. Be patient with new foods: Offer new foods repeatedly without pressure, allowing children to become familiar with them over time^[1].

Practical Examples of sDOR in Action

Here are some examples of how sDOR can be applied with infants and toddlers:

1. For infants: Respond to hunger cues by offering breast milk or formula, allowing the baby to control the amount consumed. As solid foods are introduced, offer a variety of age-appropriate options and allow the infant to explore and self-feed^[2].
2. For toddlers: Serve family-style meals with a variety of foods, including at least one item the child usually likes. Allow the toddler to choose what and how much to eat from the offered foods without comment or pressure^[1][2].
3. Snack time: Offer structured snacks at set times, providing a balance of nutrients. Allow the child to eat until satisfied without enforcing a specific portion size^[1].
4. New food introduction: Place a small amount of a new food on the child’s plate along with familiar foods. Don’t insist they try it; simply expose them to it repeatedly over time^[1].
5. Mealtime behavior: Set clear expectations for mealtime behavior (e.g., sitting at the table, using utensils) and model these behaviors consistently^[2].

In conclusion, Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility offers a structured yet flexible approach to feeding infants and toddlers. By clearly delineating the roles of parents and children in the feeding relationship, sDOR promotes healthy eating habits, positive mealtime experiences, and appropriate growth and development. Implementing sDOR strategies can help parents navigate the often challenging terrain of early childhood feeding, fostering a lifelong positive relationship with food for their children.

Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4135507/
[2] https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-feed/the-division-of-responsibility-in-feeding/
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499404620307168
[4] https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/satter-feeding-dynamics-model/
[5] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51879160_Responsive_Feeding_and_the_Division_of_Responsibility
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4493292/
[7] https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672%2820%2931483-0/fulltext
[8] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264940314_Testing_Satter%27s_Division_of_Responsibility_in_Feeding_in_the_context_of_restrictive_snack-management_practices