Research Interests

My research centers on understanding the development of eating behaviors, food preferences, and dietary patterns during infancy and early childhood. I investigate how parent-child interactions, particularly during mealtimes, influence children’s self-regulatory abilities, dietary habits, and weight outcomes. My work also explores how child characteristics can affect parental feeding attitudes and practices. The ultimate aim of my research is to inform family- and community-based interventions to prevent obesity and related health issues.

A significant portion of my recent work emphasizes promoting responsive feeding practices during infant feeding interactions. This includes studying predictors of caregiver responsiveness and the quality of caregiver-infant interactions during breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and the introduction of solid foods. My research has led to the development of tools like the Maternal Distraction Questionnaire and the Baby Behaviors when Satiated (BABES) coding scheme, which assess factors influencing feeding interactions.

I have authored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, nine book chapters, and the book Promoting Responsive Feeding During Breastfeeding, Bottle-Feeding, and the Introduction to Solid Foods. I have also secured more than $5.5 million in research funding from institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. My contributions to the field were recognized with the 2021–2022 Cal Poly Distinguished Scholarship Award.