Feeding Challenges in Young Children

Young children's feeding issues can be a complex challenge for early childhood professionals, especially since most get little to no training addressing this key developmental area. Now there's a single comprehensive resource that provides early childhood educators and interventionists with specific, practical, research-based guidance on resolving a wide range of feeding issues.

Ideal for a wide range of professionals working with young children birth–5 years across school, home, and child care settings, this book-and-CD set gives readers in-depth background information, how-to strategies, and helpful tools for addressing feeding challenges. Integrating the dual perspectives of the authors—a child development expert and an early childhood special education expert—the book helps readers

• understand the entire process of feeding development and how feeding affects early childhood development
• gain familiarity with variations in feeding contexts, including diverse cultural and at-risk groups and their impact on feeding choices and attitudes
• support children with specific feeding issues (see below) with specialized, evidence-based interventions and strategies
• learn the basics of screening and assessment procedures and widely used instruments
• develop appropriate, individualized feeding plans that align with children's IEPs and IFSPs
• strengthen collaboration between parents, caregivers, and professionals on a child's feeding team
• monitor feeding progress through anecdotal records, observations, and data-based approaches

With almost 50 pages of printable tools, forms, and handouts, the included CD-ROM gives professionals practical help with every step of improving children's feeding issues. Professionals will get daily feeding logs, recordkeeping forms, quick-guides to feeding milestones and red flags, and tip sheets on critical issues such as breastfeeding, feeding team requirements, and positioning strategies and specialized feeding equipment.

A vital resource for every member of a child's feeding team, this much-needed guidebook will help readers resolve one of the most critical issues in early childhood development—and ensure better overall outcomes for young children.

Help young children with

• risk factors for feeding difficulties
• sensory-based feeding issues
• oral motor difficulties
• neurological disorders
• anatomical differences
• feeding requirements