Care and feeding for children with feeding difficulties

•    Sometimes children have difficulties feeding, and they may require additional support to be able to feed well. It is important to consult a health care provider if you have any concerns about your child’s feeding
•    Seek immediate care at a facility if your child is losing weight, or displays warning signs like frequent coughing or tearing while feeding, jaw tightening that prevents feeding, fast breathing or breathing becoming wet-sounding, excessive sweating or tiring quickly when feeding, or vomiting after feeding.
•    Children with feeding difficulties are at increased risk of becoming malnourished. Regular growth monitoring is important for all children.

Difficulty controlling head or body:
•    A stable, upright position with support for eating and drinking is one of the most important factors for safe feeding. Make sure your child’s whole body is supported well, so that she can focus on eating.
•    If your child is floppy, provide support to his or her back and head using your body or a chair. Always keep his or her head upright while feeding to prevent choking or having food go down his or her airway. 
Persistent difficulty chewing or swallowing: 
•    Difficulty chewing and swallowing can cause choking and can lead to illness. Consult with a health care provider and ask for specific feeding strategies for your child.    
•    Consider mashing or pureeing foods by passing soft foods through a sieve. It is easier for children to learn to control foods in their mouth and swallow if they are only one texture.
•    Water and other liquids are easy for children to choke on if they have problems swallowing. Never pour liquids into your child’s mouth. Consider thicker liquids like soft porridge or yogurt.
Difficulty self-feeding:
•    Spoons and forks with thicker handles are easier for children to hold. Attach a rubber tube or piece of wood to the spoon handle to make it thicker. 
•    Plates with steep sides may make it easier for some children to scoop up food themselves.
Note: If a child is having difficulties latching to the breast, review IYCF cards for guidance on different positions, breast milk expression, and safe cup feeding. If the child is sick with common illnesses such as fever or diarrhea, refer to the IYCF card on feeding a sick baby under 6 months of age or a sick child older than 6 months of age.