Preventing Common Feeding Problems in Infants and Young Children

Abstract

Feeding is one of many important ways that parents nurture their infants and children. When parents are overly concerned about feeding, they can exacerbate temporary feeding difficulties and misbehaviors by their inappropriate responses to the child's behavior. Child health supervision visits provide opportunities for the early detection of feeding problems, for education about early feeding experiences and typical child behavior at mealtimes, and for suggestions about the prevention of feeding problems. Handouts and printed materials can provide useful guidelines for introducing solid foods and for managing children's mealtime behavior. Early detection might reduce the likelihood that minor feeding disturbances will develop into severe feeding problems. Behavior management strategies and a pleasant social context for mealtimes can improve children's eating and mealtime behavior. Impairments in the parent-infant relationship may lead to serious feeding problems and referrals to appropriate support services are necessary. Prevention and early treatment of feeding problems can be facilitated by health education about early food experiences and the common developmental behaviors that occur as children grow and develop.