IMFed has Solutions to our Child's Feeding Difficulties

Being a mom is one of the many challenges of a woman especially when it comes to our children's eating habits.  Because their feeding behavior can affect their optimal growth, development and immunity.

Studies show that 6 out of 10 mothers report that their children have feeding difficulties.  

And those feeding difficulties in young children are often overlooked and therefore remain under-diagnosed. We, parents often misdiagnose the problem and simply pass it off as picky eating and / or fussy eating.

Feeding Difficulties is more than just a phase: 

Feeding difficulties effect may last up to 11 years of a child’s life and children with severe and prolonged feeding difficulties may experience impaired growth and low nutrient intake which result in physical and cognitive problems if not reversed.

Dr. Rita Paz Rowena A. De Guzman

"Feeding difficulties can be severe enough to impact on growth and nutrient intake, so it is important not only to address the eating behavior but also to provide adequate calories and nutrients to children as part of their management," said Dr. Rita Paz Rowena A. De Guzman, Fellow and Board Member, Philippine Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

The most common nutrients lacking in a child with feeding difficulties include Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Iron and Zinc. In order for a child to reach their optimum growth potential they require these essential nutrients as well as adequate calories.

Feeding difficulties can have potential risks like Impaired growth, compromised Immune System and lower development scores.

We parents should become concerned when our child:

• doesn't gain weight
• won't eat many types of foods with a certain texture or consistency
• refuses to eat all foods in a food group
• disrupts family meals with his/her eating behavior
• wants to eat up but appears unable to

For us to address feeding difficulties, we have first to know its different types:

Feeding Difficulties have different types:

• Parental perceptions- child who is achieving satisfactory growth but the parents believe their child’s appetite is limited.
• Fundamentally vigorous- child who rarely shows signs of hunger or interest in food. The child  is very active,  more interested in playing and is easily distracted.
• Highly selective eater- child has limited food selection, has negative reactions to taste, texture, smell and appearance of food
• Fear of feeding- child is afraid to eat after having a painful or bad experience with eating
• 
  

Since there are different types of feeding behaviors that require a tailored approach, we mothers need to be aware of the seriousness of this condition. Prevention and early intervention are important and these can be best consulted with a pediatrician trained on the management of feeding difficulties.

To help struggling parents overcome their child’s feeding difficulties and develop healthy eating habits, the IMFeD MD Network was formed with an advocacy of screening every child for feeding difficulties and providing an appropriate treatment plan.

  

The Identification and Management of Feeding Difficulties (IMFeD) program is an evidence-based solution system that aims to screen, assess, and diagnose children with feeding difficulties.  It also provides tools and appropriate treatment plans for the different types of feeding difficulties.

Currently, there are more than 400 IMFeD MD Network  who can be consulted for these conditions. 

Dra. MA. ROCHELLE BUENAVISTA-PACIFICO

Advantages of using the IMFeD approach:

1.    It is Scientific  — involves a process wherein the doctor

o   ACKNOWLEDGES the concern of the parent or caregiver

o   INVESTIGATES the reason for the feeding behavior

o   IDENTIFIES the specific feeding behavior so the doctor can

o   MANAGE and give the appropriate approach suited to the feeding difficulties identified

2.    Facilitated by experts – partnership between parents and a trained pediatrician.

3.    Uses appropriate tools to screen, assess, manage and monitor the child’s progress.

o   Screening through a Patient Record Form - integration of four feeding behaviors where the doctor can validate the parents’ or the caregiver’s perception of the child’s feeding behavior.

o   Growth Charts - validate and translate the relevance of the results during clinical consultation to track the child’s height, weight suited to the current age

o   Patient Management Tools - Menu plan and specific patient material containing feeding guidelines to encourage children to eat, provide practical advice for specific situations, since different children have different reasons for resisting food.

Examples of parental advice for each of the feeding behaviors are the following:

Type of Feeding Behavior	Parental Advice
1)Parental Perception	Choose a designated place when eating.
2)Fundamentally Vigorous Child	Avoid Distraction.
3)Highly Selective Eater	Do Food Chaining,
4)Fear of Feeding	Increase the amount of food gradually.

A doctor who is a member of the IMFeD Network can be identified in the hospital through an IMFED Network signage.  

One may also call the IMFeD Network hotline at 995-1555 or 1-800-10-995-1555 which is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 8:00AM to 8:00PM

Abbott Nutrition Philippines supports the proper identification and management of children with feeding difficulties through the IMFeD Network and continues to raise awareness on the need to properly manage feeding difficulties with the help of trained pediatricians.