Children with Feeding Difficulties Present Changes in the Development of Feeding Skills: A Study with a Control Group

Ramos et al.

Introduction Feeding skills (FS) are important to child development, as the delay in their presence could suggest feeding difficulties (FD) symptoms. The aim of the present study was to compare the development of three types of FS (autonomy to eat, posture at meals, and adequate use of cutleries) among children with FD and without FD.

Methods This was a case-control retrospective observational study. The sample consisted of 316 children from case and control groups in accordance with the presence (or not) of FD. The control group was recruited by convenience (verbal approaching at the emergency care unit), and the case group was based on the medical records collected at the reference center. A same-structured questionnaire was used for both groups.

Results Children with FD (63.2%) used baby-bottles in an inadequate way with a higher frequency after 24 months of age. Inadequate posture at meals was observed with higher frequency in children with FD (78.1%). Children without FD (89.1%) had more autonomy to eat. In children > 18 months old, this frequency was higher (90.6%).

Conclusion Children with FD showed changes on the development of FS. Inadequate posture at meals was associated with a 36-fold higher risk of having FD. Not eating alone after the age of 18 months was associated with a 6-fold higher risk of having FD, while not using baby bottles was associated with a lower risk (52%) of FD complaints. Delays in FS can be predictors of FD during childhood.