What do we know?
n Newborns depend entirely on adults to be fed. As their motor skills develop,
they gradually learn to eat on their own.
n Feeding problems are one of the most common developmental difficulties in healthy
children and affect approximately 25% to 50% of children under two years of age.
n The most common forms of feeding problems include an exaggerated or insufficient
food intake, unhealthy diet or strange food preference.
n Most problems are mild and short-lived (for example, skipped meals) but roughly 1%
to 2% of feeding problems become chronic and can lead to malnutrition.
n Several factors contribute to feeding problems, including genetic predispositions,
physiology, temperament and environmental conditions.
n Most feeding problems occur when the child is introduced to new food with an
unfamiliar taste, texture, smell, temperature or appearance.
n The diet of many toddlers consists of too few fruits and vegetables and too much
high fat and sugary food.
n When children systematically refuse nutritious food, parent-child relationships can
become strained and mealtimes can become a major source of stress.
n When children are introduced to fruits and vegetables early in life, they are more
likely to appreciate these nutritious foods when they are older.
n Young children tend to react negatively to parents who pressure them to change
their unwanted feeding habits, this may contribute to feeding problems.
n Children who watch a lot of television tend to view fast food more positively,
and are more likely to have an unhealthy diet because of exposure to food
advertisement.
n Persistent feeding problems in young children can be improved through individualized
pediatric treatment which can have a positive effect on physical and mental health.