Key points about paediatric feeding disorder
- tamariki with paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) do not eat or drink enough food or eat enough variety of foods
- PFD makes it hard for tamariki to get the nutrition they need to grow and be healthy
- tamariki with PFD may have other conditions such as autism-takiwātanga
- managing PFD involves support from a range of health professionals
- the aim is for your child to enjoy eating and mealtimes, eat a variety of foods and meet nutritional goals
What is paediatric feeding disorder (PFD)?
Paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) is a common problem in young tamariki.
Tamariki with PFD may not eat and drink enough food and fluids to meet their needs. Others may limit the variety of foods and textures they eat. For example, they may avoid a whole food group like fruit or vegetables. Some tamariki may eat less than 20 different foods.
For some tamariki with PFD, their weight and height may be as expected for their age. But, PFD makes it hard for them to get the nutrition they need to grow and be healthy.
PFD can also cause mealtime stress for tamariki and their whānau (family).
PFD is not an eating disorder. Although tamariki with PFD eat a limited range of foods, they are not doing this due to concerns about their body weight or shape.
Who gets paediatric feeding disorder?
Any child can develop PFD, even those without any other health conditions
PFD is more common in tamariki with medical problems, developmental delay, or those born early. Tamariki with autism-takiwātanga or sensory issues may also be more likely to have PFD.
Tamariki are more likely to develop PFD if they have difficulty using the lips, tongue, jaw, teeth or roof of the mouth (palate). Tamariki with cleft palate may have a higher chance of having PFD.
Symptoms of paediatric feeding disorder
Signs and symptoms of PFD can include:
- trouble eating, chewing and swallowing
- coughing, gagging or choking when eating
- eating very little or refusing to eat
- never seeming hungry
- being very picky and limiting what they eat
- taking a long time to eat
- getting up from the table early
- not gaining weight or growing as expected
- constipation
- showing fear, discomfort or distress around food and mealtimes
- needing nutrition supplements such as Pediasure or Fortini to grow
Diagnosing paediatric feeding disorder
There is no single test to check for PFD. A health professional will talk to you about your child’s symptoms and eating habits. They will want to measure your child’s height and weight.
The health professional may order tests to rule out other causes for your child’s eating habits.
If your health professional thinks your child may have PFD, they may refer you to a specialist for a diagnosis.
Managing paediatric feeding disorder
The management of PFD depends on what symptoms and other medical conditions your child may have.
Managing PFD focuses on 4 areas:
- medical
- nutritional
- feeding skills
- behaviours (psychosocial)
Your child will need to see different health professionals to help manage their PFD. The health professionals that may be involved include:
- child health specialist (paediatrician)
- psychologist or mental health nurse
- occupational therapist
- speech and language therapist
- dietitian
The aims of treatment for tamariki with PFD include:
- having positive eating and mealtime experiences
- eating a large variety of foods
- becoming comfortable eating with others
- improving eating and oral motor skills
- correcting any nutrient deficiencies
- gaining weight or maintaining a healthy weight (with or without supplements)
Could it be something else?
Fussy Eating
Many tamariki are picky eaters at times. They may dislike certain foods but still eat enough to grow well. This is usually a normal part of development and often gets better with age.
ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
ARFID is when a person avoids certain foods or eats less because of things like not feeling hungry, not liking the taste or texture, or being afraid of choking or vomiting. ARFID can increase anxiety and distress around meal times.
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
A health professional will talk to you about your child’s symptoms and behaviours to understand the cause of their eating problems.
More information and support
Feeding Matters brings families together with advocates, experts, and allied health professionals. Their aim is to improve the system of care for paediatric feeding disorders through advocacy, education, support, and research.
Feeding Matters has a questionnaire that helps highlight possible areas of concern. You can discuss these more with your health professional.
