<![CDATA[The Central Java Provincial Health Office (2024) stated that Banjarnegara Regency has the highest stunting prevalence in Central Java, at 20.8%. Meanwhile, based on Posyandu monitoring results in 2023, Wanayasa Subdistrict in Banjarnegara reported the highest number of stunted toddlers, with 214 children. The condition of stunted toddlers cannot be separated from the role of mothers in fulfilling their nutritional needs. This study aims to analyze maternal decision-making regarding toddler nutrition. The theory employed is Dual Process Theory (DPT), which distinguishes between two systems of thinking: System 1 (fast, intuitive, and emotional) and System 2 (slow, rational, and reflective). Additionally, the Wilbur Schramm Communication Model is employed to examine the processes of encoding and decoding, shared experience fields, and feedback in interpersonal communication. This study employed a descriptive-qualitative method, conducting in-depth interviews with 13 mothers of toddlers and 2 supporting informants. The results showed that the majority of mothers make decisions based on System 1 emotional responses or spontaneous actions when their child has difficulty eating. However, family support and empathetic communication from health workers, which are simple messages, relevance to the mother's experience, and precise feedback, can shift decisions to System 2. Thus, mothers tend to be more reflective, analytical, and consistent in developing nutritional strategies for their toddlers. In fact, maternal decision-making in Wanayasa District is still dominated by System 1. Still, it has the potential to improve towards System 2 through educational interventions, social support, and effective interpersonal communication strategies according to Schramm's model.]]>
