Poor feeding is when an infant has a lack of interest in feeding or a problem receiving the proper amount of nutrition.

Poor feeding is a nonspecific symptom seen in newborn and young infants. It can result from many conditions, including infection, metabolic disorders, genetic disorders, structural problems, and neurological disorders. Poor feeding is not a sign of the severity of the disease, but it requires close watching of the infant.

Poor feeding is not the same as "picky" eating. Many children between ages 2 and 4 are picky eaters. Parents only need to give children what they like to eat at this age. However, children must continue to drink milk or an appropriate milk substitute.

• Any disorder that causes damage to the nervous system or causes muscle weakness
• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
• Birth-acquired herpes
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Galactosemia
• Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn (late)
• Hypoplastic left heart
• Infant botulism
• Infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• Newborn jaundice
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Premature infant
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
• Tracheoesophageal fistula, a birth defect in which there is a connection between the trachea and the esophagus
• Transposition of the great vessels
• Truncus arteriosus
• Viral gastroenteritis