pediatric feeding disorder

Beyond Picky Eating

Many families

report that their child is a picky eater when they actually have a Feeding Disorder. Below is a discussion to help you understand Feeding Disorders.

Risk Factors

• Reflux and other GI disorders

• Tongue tie or poor suck patterns as an infant

• Negative feeding experiences

• Environmental Influences

• Sensory Integration Dysfunction

• Prematurity

• Infant feeding difficulties

Could It Just Be Picky Eating?

Picky eating is a typical developmental stage that occurs at the same time that a toddler is exhibiting independence. Any picky eating past toddler years is not part of typical development. pediatric feeding disorder

Although similar in some ways, Feeding Disorders are not part of typical development. Children “don’t just “grow out of it”. Feeding Disorders can cause many problems for children and their families.

Complications

• Poor growth and nutrition	• Delays in development
• Social and emotional anxiety	• Stress on entire family

Common Characteristics

• Gags, coughs, chokes	• Limited variety (<20 foods)
• Difficulty transitioning	• Strong negative reaction to new foods
• Extreme food selectivity	• Oral sensory and motor issues
• Selective by brand or look of food	• Does not eat family diet
• Refuses unfamiliar foods	• Disruptive mealtime behaviors
• Fear /anxiety of food or eating	• Food jags
• Rigid eating habits

That sounds like my child, what should I do?

if your child is exhibiting any of the characteristics of a Feeding Disorder and you are concerned about your child’s feeding behaviors, get help now. The “just make him eat” or “he will eat when he gets hungry” strategies do not work with children with Feeding Disorders and just may make things worse.

Will my child just grow out of it? ( pediatric feeding disorder)

Unfortunately kids do not just grow out of Feeding Disorders. In fact without help, they can get worse and can increase a child’s risk of teenage eating disorder. Early intervention can reduce the risk of medical complications, reduce the potential of behavioral disorders and reduce the risk of social and emotional issues and help families return to happy mealtimes.

Until I get feeding therapy, what can I do at home?

• Have family meals

• Only feed child when seated. Do not allow traveling while eating.

• Continue to offer unstressed presentations of non-favored foods

• Do not bribe, sneak or force any food

• Ignore or time-out undesired behaviors