Feeding Development and Disorders

An important developmental process in the first years of life is the acquisition of autonomous internal regulation of feeding. A model of 3 stages of feeding development is presented to provide an understanding of how children develop internal versus external regulation of eating. This model is used to understand how different feeding disorders develop at these 3 stages of feeding development, and how some feeding disorders can occur at any age of the child. A classification of 6 feeding disorders, which was developed by Chatoor and published in DC: 0-3R, is outlined and its relationship to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in DSM-5 is discussed. Diagnostic criteria, clinical picture, review of the literature, comorbidity between various feeding disorders, and treatment guidelines are described by Chatoor and Lucarelli for each of the six subtypes in DC: 0-3R. Current research is examined addressing the challenges of treating feeding disorders in infants and young children.