Feeding at 6-12 months in infants with CHD

Feeding difficulty is common in infants with CHD.

The purpose of this study was to describe the feeding skills and behaviours of infants with CHD at 6-12 months of age and explore relationships between feeding, gastrointestinal distress, and gastroesophageal reflux.

Parents of 30 infants with CHD completed online surveys when their infant was 6, 8, 10, and 12 months old. Surveys included parent-report measures of feeding skills (Child Oral and Motor Proficiency Scale), feeding behaviours (Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool), symptoms of gastrointestinal distress (Infant Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire), and gastroesophageal reflux (Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire-Revised).

We found that 95, 32, 67, and 30% of infants were delayed in their feeding skill development at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months, respectively. Symptoms of problematic feeding behaviours were similarly high, with 90, 62, 29, and 38% of infants meeting criteria for problematic feeding at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months, respectively. Feeding skills and behaviours were related but unique contributors. Feeding behaviours were related to both gastrointestinal distress and gastroesophageal reflux, but feeding skills were rarely related to either.

Delayed acquisition of feeding skills and problematic feeding were common in infants with CHD. Infants with more gastrointestinal and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms had more symptoms of problematic feeding behaviours.

Comprehensive assessment, targeted interventions, and early involvement of feeding specialists are important to support feeding in infants with CHD through at least the first year of life.