How to Improve Eating Behaviour during Early Childhood

Abstract

Eating behaviour disorder during early childhood is a common pediatric problem. Many terminologies have been used interchangeably to describe this condition, hindering implementation of therapy and confusing a common problem. The definition suggests an eating behaviour which has consequences for family harmony and growth. The recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition does not cover the entire spectrum seen by pediatricians. Publications are substantive but level of evidence is most of the time low. This purpose of this review is to clarify terminology of eating behaviour problems during early childhood; including benign picky eating, limited diets, sensory food aversion, selective eating, food avoidance emotional disorder, pervasive refusal syndrome, tactile defensiveness, functional dysphagia, neophobia and toddler anorexia. This tool is proposed only to ease the clinical management for child care providers. Diagnostic criteria are set and management tools are suggested. The role of dietary counselling and, where necessary, behavioural therapy is clarified. It is hoped that the condition will make its way into mainstream pediatrics to allow these children, and their families, to receive the help they deserve.

Emotional-Behavioral Functioning, Maternal Psychopathologic Risk and Quality of Mother–Child Feeding Interactions in Children with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

“…The link between PTFD diagnosis and children's externalizing problems, maternal psychopathologic difficulties (especially in the obsessive compulsion and anxiety areas), as well as a poor quality of dyadic feeding interactions is in line with previous studies in this field [17]. As suggested by some authors [61,62], the presence of child's feeding difficulties may be a psychological stressor for mothers that can spillover into the quality of interactions with their children. However, this study is the first that also had underlined the presence of dysregulation problems among these children.…”

Complementary feeding in infants born prematurely

“…The relationship that the individual will establish with food throughout all his/her life is fruit of the dynamics of the first experiences he/she created as a baby with the mother, the family and everything that was around. For the baby, feeding is the moment of affective contact and bonding with the mother (24) .…”

Feeding difficulties and eating disorders in pediatric patients with cancer

“…In the pediatric population, these involve a sequence of poor behaviors about feeding processes, such as an inadequate composition of the diet, including quality, quantity, nutritional content, and type, which can adversely affect the psychomotor, psychosocial, and physical development of children (failure to thrive and macro-and micro-deficiencies). [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] A lack of nutrients, such as proteins, iron, zinc, and vitamin A, is the most common result of eating disorders. The developments of these eating alterations are usually associated with factors such as medical procedures or treatments, prolonged hospitalizations, and comorbidities.…”

“…Determining the prevalence of feeding problems in children with cancer may be complicated since no universally accepted definition or classification system exists. 3,13 However, there are three significant difficulties or disorders classified by Kerzner and Chatoor: limited appetite, selective intake, and fear of feeding. 14,15 This classification facilitates the approach to the disorder and its possible underlying mechanisms and promotes an appropriate assessment and timely intervention.…”