Having a newborn baby is one of the most exciting times in your life. Eating is important in every human being’s life, especially an infant.
Most babies find pleasure and relaxation with eating. However, if your baby is having trouble with eating, whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or introducing solid foods, you might want to have a feeding evaluation.
At Katy Pediatric Association, located in Houston, Texas, we provide feeding assessments to address potential problems and help your baby get the proper nourishment they need. Here we explain what a feeding evaluation is and its benefits.
During the first six months of an infant’s life, feeding and swallowing problems are common — approximately 20-40% of infants and toddlers face them. Difficulty during feeding can hinder brain development during this critical learning time.
Premature infants and those with congenital heart disease have an increased risk of developing a feeding problem. Healthy infants can develop feeding problems, so it’s important to know the signs of one.
Signs to look for:
If your child has one or more of these symptoms, call us or your primary care physician.
Asmaa Fotouh, MD performs feeding evaluations to help get your child’s health and development back on track. Feeding evaluations generally start by reviewing information like your child’s medical history and discussing any concerns you have about their feeding.
Next, your physician will observe you feeding your child and look for motor skills, comparing them with normal eating habits. Make sure your child is hungry enough for the appointment so they can eat several mouthfuls of different foods. Dr. Fatouh looks for any irregularities in their eating patterns, like abnormal positions or food getting caught in their lungs.
To conclude the evaluation, Dr. Fotouh will share with you her findings, make recommendations for improved feeding, and develop a custom plan of care.
Your little one’s feeding habits may take some time to change. However, it’s important to get help as soon as possible, so they can break the habits and start toward a healthier future.
A feeding evaluation can shed light on the problem and allow you to help fix it. Here are some of the benefits a feeding evaluation brings:
Not only does a feeding evaluation help your little one, but it also can bring you a better state of mind. Don’t wait any longer, schedule a feeding evaluation for your child today. Call 281-492-7676 to schedule your appointment or book online.
