Feeding Difficulties

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Feeding Difficulties

Feeding difficulties in children can be a cause of concern for many parents. Whether it’s a picky eater refusing vegetables or a child struggling with a medical condition that affects their ability to eat, addressing feeding issues early is crucial for healthy growth and development. Here, we explore common feeding challenges, their causes, and practical solutions to support your child’s nutritional needs.

What Are Feeding Difficulties?

Feeding difficulties refer to challenges a child faces when eating, chewing, or swallowing food. These issues may vary from mild picky eating habits to severe medical conditions such as dysphagia or feeding disorders. Left unaddressed, feeding problems can lead to nutritional deficiencies, poor growth, and stress for both the child and their caregivers.

Common Signs

Recognizing feeding difficulties in children is the first step to addressing them. Some common signs include:

Refusing to eat certain foods or food groups.
Taking a long time to finish meals.
Gagging or vomiting during meals.
Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
Showing a lack of appetite or disinterest in food.

We, at the Center for Peds Gastro, offer a comprehensive package of series of sessions as part of our Feeding Support Program. This involves a complete nutritional evaluation focusing on different food groups, adequate intake of calories/protein/fiber/fat, mealtime related behaviors. After this, 4-6 sessions are conducted where the child is fed by our team, in presence of the parent/parents, to improve mealtime related behaviors. Parents are also trained in the process. Goals of this program are to ensure the child is able to consume different textures of foods, variety of food groups and show adequate weight gain. If you are concerned about feeding difficulties in your child, this Feeding Support Program can be helpful in improving your child’s growth and eating habits.

Dr. Nidhi Rawal

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGIST AND HEPATOLOGIST

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