Early Feeding Problems in an Affluent Society

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to analyse early feeding problems. Fifty infants, between the ages of 3 and 12 months, were reported by the Child Health Centre (CHC) nurse and the parents to have some form of feeding problem, which had been present for at least one month. Data were collected by a visit to the infant's home, from medical records and by interviewing the CHC nurse. Three main problem categories were distinguished: Refusal to eat (28 infants), colic (9 infants) and vomiting (8 infants). The problems had often begun at an early age and had persisted for a long time (mean age at onset 4.3 months, mean duration 4.5 months). Eight of the infants had significant medical disorders, which in seven of them explained the feeding problems. In 23 infants the weight increase had been poor since the commencement of the problems. The CHC nurses considered most of the problems troublesome, difficult to treat and uncommon.

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