Poor Feeding in Infants

See all Pictures & Images

What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

A child who is feeding poorly will often have other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition. Diagnosis of that condition is based on a family history, medical history, and thorough physical evaluation.

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions like the following:

• Eating habits
  • How does the baby (child) eat normally?
  • Has the diet been changed recently?
• Time pattern
  • Has the baby (child) always been a fussy eater?
  • Is the feeding getting harder?
• Other symptoms
  • Is there vomiting?
  • Is there diarrhea?
  • Is there an abnormal stool color?
  • Is there abdominal pain?
  • Is there abdominal cramping?
  • Is there a sore throat?
  • Is there a stiff neck?
  • Is there a headache?
  • Is there gagging or choking?
  • Is there coughing?
  • Are there other symptoms?

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

Laboratory studies such as X-rays, GI studies, and blood tests may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.

AFTER THE OFFICE VISIT

Although the health care provider maintains records on your baby, it is a good idea to maintain your own records of office visit findings, test results, and your own observations of your baby's health. You should add measurements that you do at home (such as height and weight).

Bring your records to the health care provider's attention if you notice any abnormalities, or if you have questions about your baby's development. If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of poor feeding, you note this diagnosis in your record.