/* consume JSON structure: { "mother": { "name":"Susanne" }, "kid": { "name":"Peter" } } constructors and accessors are omitted */ public class MotherWithKidDTO { private Mother mother; private Kid kid; } private class Mother { private String name; private Kid kid; } private class Kid { private String name; // private Mother mother; // if needed } @RestController public class MotherController { @PostMapping public Mother createMotherWithKid(@RequestBody MotherWithKidDTO motherWithKid) { Mother mother = motherWithKid.getMother(); Kid kid = motherWithKid.getKid(); mother.setKid(kid); Mother created = motherService.save(mother); return created; } }