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Feeding behavior in three-year-old children born <30 weeks and term-born peers

Katherine Sanchez1, Jessica O Boyce1, Angela T Morgan2

  • 1Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.

Appetite
|August 10, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Parental concerns about feeding difficulties in three-year-olds born preterm persist, despite equivalent behavioral feeding outcomes compared to term-born peers. Key risk factors for these concerns include chronic lung disease and neurodevelopmental diagnoses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Feeding difficulties are common in preterm infants and can impact growth, health, and neurodevelopment.
  • Existing literature presents conflicting findings regarding the persistence of feeding problems into early childhood and associated risk factors in preterm populations.
  • This study investigates feeding difficulties and their predictors in three-year-olds born preterm compared to term-born children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess if three-year-olds born before 30 weeks gestation exhibit poorer feeding outcomes than their term-born counterparts.
  • To identify predictors of feeding outcomes specifically within the preterm group.

Main Methods:

  • Examined feeding outcomes in three-year-olds born <30 weeks gestation and a term-born control group.
  • Utilized parent-reported data and the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS).
  • Investigated potential risk factors including gestational age, birth weight z-score, chronic lung disease (CLD), nasogastric tube (NGT) feeding, breastfeeding cessation, oromotor feeding impairment, and neurodevelopmental diagnoses.

Main Results:

  • Parents of preterm children (<30 weeks) reported significantly more feeding concerns than parents of term-born children.
  • Chronic lung disease, NGT at discharge, neurodevelopmental diagnoses, and 12-month weight predicted parent-reported feeding concerns.
  • No significant difference in BPFAS scores was observed between preterm and term groups; only birth weight z-score predicted BPFAS scores in the preterm group.

Conclusions:

  • Behavioral feeding outcomes at age three were comparable between preterm (<30 weeks) and term-born children.
  • Parental concerns regarding feeding differ significantly, warranting further investigation into their underlying causes.
  • Children with identified risk factors require targeted follow-up for feeding outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildEatingFeedingPrematurePretermToddler

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