title: Parental perception of premature infant growth and feeding behaviors: use of gestation-adjusted age and assessing for developmental readiness during solid food introduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The extent to which pediatricians inform parents about gestation-adjusted age growth plotting is unclear. Uninformed parents may have decreased satisfaction of infant growth. Subsequent early introduction of solid foods may lead to avoidant feeding behaviors and poor parental perception of infant feeding patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires regarding infant growth and feeding behaviors were given to parents (n = 76) of premature infants. The Wilcoxon rank-sum and χ(2)/Fisher's exact tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uninformed parents were less satisfied with their infant's growth (P < .002). Uninformed parents had more developmentally unready infants at the time of solid food introduction compared with informed parents (P = .03). Significant differences were found in avoidant feeding behaviors and parental perception of infant feeding patterns between developmentally ready and unready infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatricians should adjust for gestational age when plotting growth and assess for developmental readiness for premature infants when recommending solid foods.
authors: Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, USA jaeah.chung@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
authors: Jaeah
authors: J
authors: Chung
authors: Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, Lake Success, NY, USA.
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, Lake Success, NY, USA.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Spinazzola
authors: The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Rosen
authors: Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, Lake Success, NY, USA.
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Milanaik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: feeding behaviors; growth plotting; infant; preterm