Unraveling the Mysteries of Pediatric Feeding Disorder
Do you feel like your child survives on GOLDFISH® crackers, chicken nuggets, and air?
Mealtimes can be a real struggle, especially when your child is a picky eater. It can feel like a daily battle to get them to eat anything beyond their limited selection of foods. You might start to feel defeated and worry about your child's nutrition and health. “Will my child grow out of this phase on their own? Is this something that requires intervention?” These are the questions that many parents ask themselves as they navigate the challenging world of picky eating.
Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) affects a child's ability to eat, grow, and flourish. The four categories of PFD include:
Medical
🚩 Breathing issues while eating
🚩 Choking or gagging often while eating
Psychosocial
🚩 Grazing
🚩 Disruptive behaviors
🚩 Stress and anxiety around mealtimes
🚩 Caregiver-child relationship, which feels stressful at mealtimes
🚩 Caregiver reliance on “tricks” to get through mealtimes
Nutritional
🚩 Malnutrition
🚩 Constipation
🚩 Decreased dietary diversity
🚩Reliance on PediaSure® and/or daily vitamins for nutrients
Skills Deficit (oral motor)
🚩 Sensitive to textures of foods (will only eat one texture of foods)
🚩Often gags
🚩Relies on drinks rather than food
Early recognition and treatment are essential for children with PFD to prevent complications and improve their quality of life. As a parent or caregiver, it's important to recognize the red flags / warning signs of PFD so you can seek help.
Here are some specific red flags🚩 to look out for:
🚩 Poor weight gain or weight loss: Children with PFD may struggle to consume enough food to support their growth and development.
🚩 Refusal to eat certain foods: Children with PFD may refuse whole categories of food (meats, vegetables, soft foods, etc.).
🚩 Limited variety of foods: Children with PFD may eat only a small selection of foods, which can limit their nutrient intake and increase their risk of malnutrition.
🚩 Difficulty chewing or swallowing: Lack of practice leads to difficulty with age-appropriate chewing skills.
🚩 Gagging or vomiting: Gagging or vomiting when eating is a mealtime red flag.
🚩 Prolonged mealtimes: Children with PFD may take an unusually long time to finish meals or need frequent breaks during meals.
🚩 Anxiety or distress around mealtimes: It's common for children to become anxious about things that are difficult for them, including eating.
🚩 Respiratory issues: Frequent coughing or wheezing during or after meals is a signal that chewing and swallowing are difficult for your child.
Whew, this list is intimidating! Feeding kids is NO JOKE.
We get just how stressful it is to feed kids, even when they eat pretty well. And when kids are having difficulty with eating, it's hard to know where to turn and how to find the help you need.
It's our mission here at That Makes Sense OT to help guide you through the tough times and find the support you need.
If you notice any of these red flags in your child, contact us today. The earlier the issues are identified, the sooner they can be resolved. There is hope!
This information was compiled through the CDC ICD-10 guidelines, as well as from Feeding Matters.
Goday PS, Huh SY, Silverman A, et al. Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Consensus Definition and Conceptual Framework. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019;68(1):124- 129. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000002188.
