{"id":50913,"date":"2018-08-20T14:32:42","date_gmt":"2018-08-20T20:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globaldownsyndrome.org\/?p=50913"},"modified":"2025-08-21T12:53:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T18:53:21","slug":"food-thought-addressing-feeding-swallowing-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globaldownsyndrome.org\/sq\/food-thought-addressing-feeding-swallowing-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Food for Thought: Addressing Feeding and Swallowing Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Bota e Sindrom\u00ebs Down<\/a> Summer 2016<\/em><\/p>\n

By Arwen Jackson, M.A., CCC-SLP; Bridget Harrington, M.A., CCC-SLP; and Carol Spicer, OTR\/L, Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome, Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado <\/i><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s important to identify and treat feeding and swallowing issues early to ensure your child with Down syndrome gets the most out of every healthy meal. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Children with Down Syndrome can encounter problems with feeding or swallowing due to physical, medical, or behavioral issues associated with their condition. Low muscle tone , sensory problems, food refusal, low endurance, or issues with oral motor skill development can all lead to problems that make eating difficult. This creates stress for children and their parents and can ultimately interfere with a child\u2019s ability to grow and thrive.<\/p>\n

A safe and enjoyable meal begins with attending to your child\u2019s cues and supporting where he or she is developmentally.<\/p>\n

BUILDING UP BABY <\/strong><\/span>
\nBoth breast- and bottle-feeding help babies grow and develop oral motor skills. Beyond looking at your baby\u2019s mouth, it is critical to observe the coordination of breathing and swallowing, the level of alertness, and beginning postural control. Babies do best with latching when they are in an awake, alert state. To help babies stay awake, talk to them, stroke their feet, or change their diapers.<\/p>\n

 
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\n<\/a>This article was published in the award-winning Down Syndrome World\u2122<\/a> magazine. Become a member<\/a> to read all the articles and get future issues delivered to your door!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A pediatrician may suggest working with specialists, such as those at the Feeding Clinic at the Anna and John J. Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado, to develop a safe and effective feeding plan that can be adapted to babies who breast-feed, bottle-feed, or both.<\/p>\n

CAREFUL OBSERVATION <\/strong><\/span>
\nA parent\u2019s power of observation is crucial in detecting issues with feeding and swallowing. Look for signs of swallowing difficulties, such as red watery eyes, coughing, choking, congestion, and chronic pulmonary or respiratory illness. Any of these could indicate dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, which requires further medical investigation.<\/p>\n

During meals, feeding difficulties may appear as prolonged or no chewing, overstuffing the mouth, and pocketing food. Behavioral signs related to feeding issues can include, but are not limited to, food refusal, inability to sit at the table, unwillingness to try new foods, or willful gagging and vomiting.<\/p>\n

If your child is overstuffing his or her mouth, place two or three bites of food on a plate at a time and continue offering small servings. Children often have difficulty controlling the impulse to stuff their mouths when offered a full plate of food.<\/p>\n

Poor postural stability also affects children\u2019s ability to sit and actively participate in feeding themselves. If they cannot hold their heads up independently or have difficulty sitting, eating safely is more challenging. To improve posture, try holding your child in a more upright position on your lap or placing small towel rolls on either side of the trunk while in a high chair. This may offer enough support to free up the child\u2019s hands for food exploration and self-feeding.<\/p>\n

SETTING THE TABLE <\/strong><\/span>
\nIf your child appears to have behavioral or sensory issues with food, try these tips to set him or her up for success:<\/p>\n