Feeding Problems and Disorders in Early Childhood
CME Unit: 0.5/1 point | 
1 hour | 
31 Dec 2026
Overview
About
Feeding disorders in early childhood represent a broad range of difficulties that interfere with a child’s ability to eat safely, effectively, or enjoyably. While occasional feeding struggles are a normal part of development, persistent issues may signal underlying medical, developmental, or behavioral concerns. Left unaddressed, these problems can lead to growth failure in children, nutrient deficiencies, and psychosocial stress for families.
Understanding the stages of normal feeding development, such as the transition from suckling to chewing and self-feeding, enables clinicians to distinguish transient difficulties from true feeding disorders. Careful assessment through history taking, observation, and a nutrition-focused physical exam helps identify warning signs that warrant early intervention or specialist referral.
Practical feeding strategies for toddlers such as structured mealtimes, responsive feeding, and repeated exposure to new foods can support skill development and prevent escalation of minor feeding challenges. Managing common feeding difficulties, including picky eating in children, requires patience, consistent routines, and positive mealtime experiences rather than coercion or force-feeding.
This module provides an evidence-based overview of feeding problems and disorders in early childhood, highlighting key principles for evaluation and management. Through clinical guidance, it aims to strengthen physicians’ ability to identify at-risk children, counsel caregivers effectively, and promote healthy feeding behaviors. By the end of this module, participants will gain a practical framework for supporting growth, nutrition, and overall wellbeing in their young patients.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning module, participants should be able to:
- Understand the definitions, prevalence, and clinical significance of feeding problems and disorders in infants and toddlers.
- Identify the normal progression of feeding skills and development of taste preference in early childhood.
- Recognize the categories of feeding disorders and their potential underlying causes (structural, neurodevelopmental, and behavioral).
- Apply a systematic approach to evaluating feeding difficulties, including history taking, physical examination, and identification red flags for referral.
Topics covered
- Introduction
- Normal Progression of Feeding Skills
- Evaluation of Feeding Problems and Disorders
- Management of Feeding Problems and Disorders
Speaker for this module:
Dr Grace C. Paguia MD DPPS FPCMNP
Training Officer
Medical Nutrition Fellowship Training Program
St. Luke’s Medical Center QC and GC
Officer in Charge (Medical Specialist III Part Time)
Clinical Nutrition Unit
Nutrition Support Unit
Valenzuela Medical Center
Visiting Medical Nutrition Physician
Delos Santos Medical Center
Quezon City
0.50/1 CME Point Available
- This module is accredited for 1 CME Point for medical practitioners enrolled in The Medical Council of Hong Kong’s Continuing Medical Education Programme for Practising Doctors who are not taking CME for Specialists.
- This module is accredited for both Hong Kong Doctors Union (HKDU) members and non-members.
- This module is accredited for 1 CME point for fellows of the Hong Kong College of Paediatricians, and 0.50 CME point for fellows of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine, the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists, and the Hong Kong College of Physicians.
- Please note that this module will not earn CME credit for fellows of colleges not listed here.
- A certificate can be downloaded upon successful completion of the quiz. Please use the information on the certificate to claim your CME points.
Keywords: feeding disorders, feeding problems, growth failure in children, nutrition-focused physical exam, feeding strategies for toddlers, picky eating in children