Parent Perceptions of Mealtime Behaviors in Children Fed Enterally

Background: Parent reports of mealtime behavioral problems were examined within a sample of medically complicated young children with documented feeding difficulties. Mealtime behavior problems of children who were fed orally were compared with children who received their total nutrition enterally. Methods: A chart review of 140 pediatric patients presenting to an outpatient Interdisciplinary Feeding Team (IFT) clinic was conducted. The sample consisted of 81 males and 59 females ranging from 1.5 months to 12.6 years of age (mean age, 36.5 months). Information included for analyses was obtained from the IFT intake form, final IFT report, and the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). Results: Parents of children in both groups found child mealtime behaviors equally problematic according to mean intensity ratings and frequency of problems regarding both parent behavior and child behaviors. Conclusions: Regardless of feeding status (enteral versus oral feeding) of the child, parents of children with feeding and nutrition concerns benefit from intervention and support surrounding mealtimes. The specific mealtime strategies and needs of the parents, however, may differ depending on the feeding status of the child.