How to Identify Feeding Disorder Of Infancy & Early Childhood

You are feeding your baby when she suddenly starts crying and vomiting. What is this? Does she have a stomach bug or does she have a feeding problem? What should you do? Identifying feeding disorders in babies and young children is not always easy, as babies tend to spit up and toddlers tend to pick at their food. Here is a guide to help you determine whether or not your baby has an actual feeding disorder or is just going through something normal for her age.

Things You'll Need

• Acetaminophen

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Instructions

How to Identify Feeding Disorder of Infancy and Early Childhood

• 1

  Start by noticing whether or not your baby is always hungry. Breastfed babies, who are not satisfied, may not be latching on correctly or the mother may not have enough milk. Bottle fed babies that seem to be always hungry may have a sore mouth

• 2

  Treat babies who have a sore mouth with acetaminophen. If this does not help, talk to the doctor about other possibilities.

• 3

  Watch for forceful vomiting after a bottle or nursing. This could indicate a condition known as pyloric stenosis, which occurs when the lower portion of the baby's stomach is enlarged. The food is unable to pass into the intestines and, therefore, is thrown up. Only a doctor can diagnose pyloric stenosis, so contact a doctor immediately if the baby is forcefully throwing up large amounts of milk.

• 4

  Notice if your baby coughs and sputters after drinking breastmilk or formula. This could indicate a feeding disorder called dysphagia, which causes the milk to go into the lungs rather than the stomach. This needs to be brought to the doctor's attention immediately.

• 5

  Pay attention to gas and other signs of stomach discomfort. This can indicate that the baby is lactose intolerant. If this is the case, he needs to have soy formula or the nursing mother needs to cut out dairy from her diet. Contact the baby's doctor in this case as well.

• 6

  Watch for spitting up that causes discomfort in the baby. While all babies spit up form time to time, it should not be uncomfortable. This could be a sign of reflux, which is a painful condition that affects many babies and can be treated with medication.

• 7

  Watch older babies and toddlers for excessive drooling, gagging, and difficulty chewing and swallowing. This can indicate a sensory-processing or oral-motor disorder. If the problem continues for several days or weeks, talk to the child's doctor about having him evaluated by a developmental specialist. Therapy can help this type of problem.