Researchers in Thailand wanted to understand why some young children aren’t growing properly. They talked to 40 mothers and caregivers of children with stunting (when kids don’t grow to a normal height) to learn about the challenges they face when feeding their children. The study found that while parents know healthy food is important, they struggle with money problems, don’t always believe in their ability to help their kids eat better, and deal with picky eaters. Family situations, what food is available in their area, and not knowing about government nutrition programs also affect how they feed their children. The researchers say fixing this problem needs help for parents through better nutrition education, support for behavior changes, and government policies that make healthy food cheaper and easier to find.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What makes it hard for Thai mothers and caregivers to feed their young children healthy food when those children aren’t growing properly
  • Who participated: 40 female caregivers (mostly mothers) of children under 5 years old who had stunting (not growing to normal height). They came from four different regions of Thailand: Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Satun, and Ubon Ratchathani. The children averaged 3 years old.
  • Key finding: Parents understand that healthy food matters, but they face real obstacles: not enough money, doubts about their ability to help their kids eat better, children refusing to eat certain foods, and wrong ideas about nutrition. Many parents let their kids eat whatever they want because they’re worried about picky eating.
  • What it means for you: If you’re a parent or caregiver struggling to feed a child who isn’t growing well, you’re not alone—and the problem isn’t just about willpower. Real solutions need help from nutrition experts, support for changing eating habits, and government help making healthy food affordable. This research suggests one-size-fits-all advice won’t work; families need personalized support.

The Research Details

Researchers used a qualitative approach, which means they had deep, personal conversations rather than just collecting numbers. They interviewed 40 mothers and caregivers of children with stunting across four different hospitals in Thailand. Trained nutrition experts conducted these interviews in person at the clinics, asking open-ended questions guided by Social Cognitive Theory—a framework that looks at how people’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings affect their behavior.

Two independent researchers carefully read through all the interview notes and looked for common themes and patterns in what parents said. They checked their findings with the local interviewers to make sure they understood the information correctly. This process, called triangulation, helps ensure the findings are accurate and reliable.

The study focused on understanding the many different levels of influence on feeding practices: what individual parents think and feel, how their families work, and what’s happening in their communities and society.

Understanding why parents make the feeding choices they do is more helpful than just telling them what to do. This research method lets researchers hear the real stories and challenges families face, which numbers alone can’t capture. By understanding the barriers parents actually experience—money problems, doubt in their own abilities, picky eaters, and false beliefs about food—researchers can design better programs that actually help.

This study has several strengths: it involved trained professionals conducting interviews, used a recognized theory to guide the research, had two independent researchers check the findings for accuracy, and included families from different regions of Thailand so the results aren’t just from one area. However, because it’s a qualitative study with 40 participants, the findings describe what’s happening in these families but may not apply exactly the same way to all Thai families. The study is recent (2026) and addresses a real public health problem in Thailand.

What the Results Show

The research revealed a clear gap between what parents know and what they can actually do. While caregivers understood that nutritious food helps children grow, they faced significant real-world barriers. Financial constraints were a major issue—families simply didn’t have enough money to buy the healthiest foods consistently. Many parents doubted their own ability to improve their child’s eating habits, which made them less likely to try new feeding strategies.

Picky eating was extremely common, and parents responded by letting children eat whatever they wanted rather than pushing nutritious foods. This happened because parents worried that refusing their child’s food requests would cause conflict or that the child wouldn’t eat anything at all. Interestingly, many parents held misconceptions about nutrition—they didn’t always understand which foods were most important for growth.

Family relationships and dynamics played a big role too. Sometimes grandparents or other family members had different ideas about feeding, which created confusion. Additionally, families had limited access to healthy foods in their neighborhoods, and many weren’t aware of or didn’t use government nutrition programs designed to help them.

Beyond the main barriers, the study found that cultural beliefs about food and feeding affected parents’ choices. Some families had traditional ideas about which foods were ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ that influenced what they fed their children. The study also showed that parents often felt isolated in their struggles—they didn’t know other families faced the same challenges. Limited connection to healthcare providers and nutrition programs meant families weren’t getting ongoing support or updated information about child nutrition.

Previous research has shown that stunting is a complex problem with many causes, but this study adds important detail about what parents actually experience. While earlier studies identified that poverty and food access matter, this research shows exactly how these factors interact with parents’ confidence, family relationships, and beliefs. The finding that parents know healthy food is important but can’t always provide it confirms what other researchers have found in different countries—the problem isn’t usually lack of knowledge, but lack of resources and support.

This study focused only on mothers and female caregivers, so we don’t know if fathers or male caregivers would report different challenges. The 40 families came from clinics, meaning they were already seeking help for their child’s stunting—families who didn’t go to clinics might have different experiences. The study was done in Thailand, so the specific barriers and cultural factors might be different in other countries. Because researchers selected participants purposefully rather than randomly, there might be some bias in who participated. Finally, this research describes what’s happening but doesn’t test whether specific solutions actually work to improve child growth.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a caregiver of a child who isn’t growing well: (1) Seek help from nutrition professionals—they can provide personalized advice for your specific situation (high confidence); (2) Look into government nutrition programs in your area that may provide food assistance or education (high confidence); (3) Work on building your confidence in feeding your child by starting with small, manageable changes rather than trying to change everything at once (moderate confidence); (4) Talk with family members about feeding goals so everyone supports the same approach (moderate confidence); (5) Focus on making nutritious foods available and appealing rather than forcing your child to eat (moderate confidence).

This research is most relevant for parents and caregivers of young children who aren’t growing properly, healthcare workers and nutrition professionals working with families in Thailand or similar settings, and policymakers deciding how to support child nutrition programs. Government officials should pay special attention to the findings about food access and affordability. This research is less directly applicable to families whose children are growing normally, though the insights about feeding challenges may still be helpful.

Improving a child’s growth takes time. Most children show measurable improvement in growth within 3-6 months of consistent better nutrition, but significant catch-up growth may take 1-2 years. However, parents should notice improvements in their child’s energy, appetite, and overall health within weeks of making feeding changes. The emotional benefits of feeling more confident and supported can happen even faster.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your child’s food intake for one week at a time, noting: (1) What foods your child ate each day, (2) How much they ate, (3) Any foods they refused, and (4) Your confidence level (1-10) in providing healthy meals that day. This helps identify patterns and shows progress over time.
  • Start with one small feeding change per week rather than overhauling everything. For example: Week 1—add one new vegetable to meals; Week 2—involve your child in food preparation; Week 3—establish a regular meal time. Use the app to set reminders for these small changes and celebrate when you complete them.
  • Monthly check-ins work best: measure your child’s height and weight (at a clinic if possible), note any changes in appetite or energy, track which feeding strategies feel easiest for your family, and adjust your goals based on what’s working. Use the app to store photos of meals you’ve prepared and notes about what your child enjoyed, creating a personalized guide for your family’s successful feeding practices.

This research describes the experiences and challenges of Thai caregivers with children who have stunting. It does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment advice. If your child is not growing properly, please consult with a healthcare provider or pediatrician for personalized evaluation and recommendations. The findings are based on interviews with 40 families and may not apply equally to all situations. This study identifies barriers and challenges but does not test specific interventions. Always work with qualified nutrition and healthcare professionals when addressing child growth concerns.