Selective eating among toddlers is a well- known phenomena which is characterized by varied factors including nutritional deficits and a unique and challenging sensory profile.
Our clinical experience in a multidisciplinary feeding and eating clinic, in Hadassah medical center of Jerusalem binds specific eating patterns with parental stress level. Parental stress is combined by parental general approach of satisfaction, quality of interaction with child and child`s temperament, as perceived by parent.
Our cross-sectional research includes thirty parents and children, referring the clinic due to selective eating and suspected sensory integration disorder.
Our study includes a nutritional assessment, questionnaires testing parental stress (PSI-4) and sensory integration (Toddler sensory Profile-2) and anthropometric indices.
Our study`s results are relevant for GP`s working in the community, who address diagnosis like ASD, ADHD and learning disabilities that interface with domains of parental stress and experience of parenting interaction and child temperament, as well as sensory integration and limited eating and nutrition.
Research results are significant in the field of locating babies and families needing intervention and as a base of promoting intervention programs of prevention and treatment. It is important to apply suitable intervention programs based on a reflective manner about eating and feeding relations, in family and cultural context.
