Infant Feeding Support for Pregnant and Postpartum Parents With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Perspectives of WIC Staff

Objective: To describe the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) staff experiences, perceptions, and training needs surrounding the provision of infant feeding support for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Methods: We conducted in-depth semistructured interviews between October and November 2021 with Maryland WIC staff (N = 10) who provide infant feeding counseling and support. We analyzed interviews using conventional content analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: identifying and documenting IDD, facilitating effective communication and infant feeding education, and assessing WIC staff competence and readiness. Conclusions and Implications: The interviews suggested the need to explore the risks and benefits of routine and compassionate processes for identifying and documenting disability, create accessible teaching materials that facilitate understanding and engagement, and educate and train staff to provide tailored support in WIC. Engaging parents with IDD to better understand their perspectives and experiences should guide future efforts to improve inclusivity and accessibility.