‘I'm having jelly because you've been bad!’: A grounded theory study of mealtimes with siblings in Australian families

Obesity prevention interventions have been designed to promote responsive feeding in early childhood. However, existing interventions primarily target first‐time mothers without considering the complexities of feeding multiple children within a family unit. By applying principles of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT), this study aimed to explore how mealtimes are enacted in families with more than one child. A mixed‐methods study was conducted with parent–sibling triads (n = 18 families) in South East Queensland, Australia. Data included direct mealtime observations, semistructured interviews, field notes, and memos. Data were analysed using open and focused coding, during which constant comparative analysis was applied. The sample comprised of two‐parent families with children ranging in age from 12 to 70 months (median sibling age difference = 24 months). A conceptual model was developed to map sibling‐related processes integral to the enactment of mealtimes in families. Notably, this model captured feeding practices used by siblings, such as pressure to eat and overt restriction, that previously had only been described in parents. It also documented feeding practices used by parents that may occur only in the presence of a sibling, such as leveraging sibling competitiveness and rewarding a child to vicariously condition their sibling's behaviour. The conceptual model demonstrates complexities in feeding that give shape to the overall family food environment. Findings from this study can inform the design of early feeding interventions that support parents to remain responsive, particularly when their perceptions and expectations of siblings differ. Sibling influences are frequently overlooked at mealtimes, despite recognition of their role in child development and adjustment across a broad range of disciplinary perspectives. By applying principles of Constructivist Grounded Theory (CGT), this study aimed to explore how mealtimes are enacted in families with more than one child. The conceptual model developed in this study demonstrates the complex and integral role of siblings in shaping how parents navigate feeding and lays a foundation for future exploratory and intervention research. Key messages Through their direct interactions, siblings may impact how they themselves are socialised around food during their early childhood years. Siblings may also alter how parents feed their children by virtue of their role within broader family dynamics and stru