Dietary transition difficulties in preterm infants: critical literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the scientific literature on dietary changes in preterm children during the first years of life.


METHODS
The PubMed database was used for article selection. The texts were analyzed according to their objectives, research design, and research group characteristics. The following were selected to comprise the criteria: (1) publications in the period from 1996 to 2014; (2) participation of infants and children from birth to 10 years of age; (3) development of oral motor skills necessary for feeding; (4) development of the feeding process; and (5) feeding difficulties during childhood.


RESULTS
There were 282 studies identified, of which 17 were used in the review, and five more articles were identified through the reference list of selected articles, totaling 22 references.


CONCLUSIONS
Very low birth weight preterm newborns are more likely to have feeding problems in early postnatal stages and during childhood when compared with full-term infants. Monitoring the feeding of these infants after hospital discharge is strictly recommended in an early intervention program aiming at better development of feeding skills.
Department of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: carla@carlapagliaro.com.br.
Carla Lucchi
CL
Pagliaro
Sector of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Karina Elena Bernardis
KE
Bühler
Section of Neonatology, Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Silvia Maria
SM
Ibidi
Department of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Suelly Cecília Olivan
SC
Limongi
D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D000069341:Transitional Care / Q000592:standards*
Alimentação infantil; Bebês e crianças prematuras; Desenvolvimento das habilidades alimentares; Development of feeding skills; Feeding problems; Infant feeding; Infants and preterm infants; Problemas de alimentação