It is estimated that approximately 25% of normally developing children experience feeding problems, with 1-2% having severe feeding difficulties associated with poor weight gain. Child feeding disorders (FD) are diagnosed when children persistently fail to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs, associated with failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children. FD often results in failure to thrive. Severe FD are associated with poor consequences, such as susceptibility to chronic illness, growth failure, delay in motor and social development, deficits in cognitive development, and later eating disorders. Beyond its physical correlates, observational studies support the association between FD and mother-infant relationships. It is therefore important to intervene in early ages.
This symposium brings together various international clinic and research teams to address early intervention in feeding disorder, experienced in different ages and in different cultures.
In the first presentation, the French team will present an intervention program for neonates with severe somatic pathologies, focusing on the importance of the preventive oral support.
Then, the Israeli team will introduce an integrative approach for intervention with infants born preterm from the NICU into the community.
And in the third presentation, the Israeli team will present evidences from a research conducted in Israel, showing the risk of maternal worry of infants’ under-weight and a related intervention program will be presented.
Finally, the Swiss Team will present the results of their study on the Attachment patterns and mentalization capacities of children at risk of obesity
A short discussion will follow these four presentations.