Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)

What are the signs and symptoms of a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)?

Feeding disorder symptoms in infants (birth to 1 year) can include:

• Arching back during feeding

• Coughing or gagging during meals

• Difficulty breastfeeding

• Frequent spitting up or vomiting

• Irritable during feeding

• Long feeding times

• Slow weight gain

• Stiffening the body during feeding

Feeding disorder symptoms in toddlers (1 to 3 year old) and children older than 3 can include:

• Coughing or gagging while eating

• Difficulty chewing

• Difficulty breathing while eating or drinking

• Doesn’t accept food textures

• Drool and/or food/liquid coming out of nose or mouth while eating

• Recurring respiratory infections, including pneumonia

• Refusing to eat or drink

• Stuffy nose while eating

• Slow weight gain

What causes a pediatric feeding disorder (PFD)?

Pediatric feeding disorders can be caused by a variety of illnesses, diseases and congenital (present from birth) defects.

The most common include:

• Airway disorders

• Behavioral Issues

• Dysphagia (swallowing disorders)

• Cleft lip or palate

• Failure to thrive

• Food Allergies 

• GERD (reflux)

• Nervous system disorders like cerebral palsy

• Prematurity