North Carolina Neurological Foundation (NCNF)

Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood

Feeding disorder of infancy or early childhood is characterized by persistent failure to eat adequate quantities of food, resulting in weight loss, nutritional deficiency, or impaired growth. Etiology includes developmental, psychological, and medical factors such as prematurity, sensory sensitivities, or parent-child relational difficulties. Clinically, patients present with selective eating, refusal to eat, or disruptive mealtime behaviors. Diagnosis requires exclusion of medical or gastrointestinal causes and evaluation of feeding behavior patterns. Management involves multidisciplinary interventions, including behavioral therapy, parental guidance, and nutritional support. Prognosis is generally favorable with early intervention and consistent therapeutic strategies.