Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood
Definition A feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood is the failure of a young child to obtain adequate nutrition, which is reflected by weight loss or a failure to gain weight appropriately for development.
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Feeding disorders are diagnosed when the infant or young child appears malnourished and the problem is not caused by a medical condition (such as cleft palate, congenital heart disease, or chronic lung disease), or a mental condition (such as any disorder that causes mental retardation).
The cause of these disorders is often unknown, but they often result from a variety of factors such as poverty, dysfunctional child-caregiver interactions, or parental misinformation about appropriate diet to meet the child's needs.
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