Building Trust Through Responsive Feeding 

BY IRENE DREITH

PERINATAL & NUTRITION SPECIALIST

Mealtimes with babies and toddlers aren't just about nutrition. They're some of the first opportunities your child has to learn that the world is a safe, predictable place where their needs will be met.

What is responsive feeding?

Responsive feeding means paying attention to your child's cues and following their lead. When your baby turns toward the bottle, opens their mouth, or reaches for food, they're telling you they're hungry. When they turn away or lose interest, they're telling you they've had enough.

When you notice and respond to these signals, your child learns something powerful: "I can communicate, and the people who care for me will listen."

A helpful way to think about feeding roles

Feeding expert Ellyn Satter developed the Division of Responsibility approach. The idea is simple: parents and children each have their own jobs at mealtimes.

The caregiver's role is to decide what food to offer, when to offer it, and where eating happens. Your child's job is to decide whether to eat and how much.

For infants, this means feeding on demand and letting your baby set the pace. For toddlers, it means offering regular meals and snacks, then allowing them to eat as much as they'd like.

Why this matters

When children are pressured to eat more or finish their plate, mealtimes may become stressful. This can make picky eating worse and interfere with your child's natural ability to recognize hunger and fullness.

When you do your job and let your child do theirs, trust builds in both directions.

Tips to try

• Sit and eat with your child when possible
• Offer one or two foods your child usually accepts at each meal
• Keep mealtimes calm and pressure-free
• Trust that your child will eat when hungry and stop when full

Thank you to the employees at Kootenai Health and the Selkirk Association of Realtors for donating Christmas gifts to many of our enrolled families. 

Your kindness and generosity helped make the holidays brighter for several of our enrolled families. We are so grateful for your compassion and for the care you show our community.

Thank you to Windermere for spearheading the Boots and Socks program again this winter, supporting many of our families.

We so appreciate our community partners who help support families!

North Idaho College Dental Hygiene Clinic

Policy Council Updates

From our meeting on January 8th

• The federal review went very well, with strong feedback from reviewers—especially regarding the ERSEA data tour, which was described as one of the best they had seen. Parent participation and playgroup visits were highlights for reviewers. We will receive the final report in the next 3-4 months.
• School readiness and program goal updates were approved, and Alissa Rudebaugh was elected as a new Policy Council member for the current program year.
• The Policy Council began its annual review of eligibility and selection criteria for the 2026–27 program year, discussing potential additions such as food insecurity, housing access, and increased prioritization points, with a vote planned for the next meeting. 

We're enrolling families now

We are currently enrolling families! If you or someone you know is expecting a child or has a child up to 36 months, reach out to learn more about our free home-based program in Bonner, Shoshone and Kootenai counties. 

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