Comprehensive Treatment of Feeding Aversion in Children

Feeding is not only a natural part of life, but also a vital part of life. Without the ability to meet our nutritional needs in some way, our life is in jeopardy. Children progress through the different stages, mastering each one as they go along from bottle or breastfeeding all the way up to solid foods. However, some children struggle with feeding skills from their first day of life. These children require immediate, skilled intervention from medical personnel. Feeding disorders occur with a reported incidence of minor feeding problems ranging between 25% and 35% in normal children and with more severe feeding problems observed in 40% to 70% in infants born prematurely or children with chronic medical conditions (Rudolph). Children with feeding disorders represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the pediatric primary care provider. A large proportion of affected individuals also present with significant developmental disabilities and other chronic care issues. Chronically ill children have often been denied typical feeding experiences and may have missed the critical periods of development vital in establishing the foundation feeding skills of the suck/swallow/breathe sequence. The nature of the child's illness may also have a lasting impact on feeding development. Children with developmental disabilities are also at an increased risk for developing feeding-related difficulties, including gastroesophageal reflux, oral motor dysfunction and aversive feeding disorder.