Feeding and Eating Disorders of Infants and Young Children are conditions in early childhood characterized by the failure of age-appropriate feeding behaviors to develop, significant difficulties with eating, or insufficient nutritional intake.
Common problems in this period include food refusal, selective eating, extreme sensitivity to certain food textures, marked distress during feeding, and inadequate weight gain. Some children may accept only a very limited range of foods, while others may refuse to eat altogether.
The development of these disorders may involve sensory sensitivities, previous negative feeding experiences, difficulties in parent–child feeding interactions, and developmental factors. It is also important to rule out underlying medical causes.
Treatment focuses on helping the child develop positive feeding experiences, providing parental guidance, applying behavioral approaches, and, when necessary, coordinating multidisciplinary care involving child psychiatry, pediatrics, and dietetics. With appropriate support, feeding behaviors can gradually develop toward a healthy pattern.
Dr Mehmet Çolak, SpecialistChild and Adolescent Psychiatrist