Infant Anorexia - Food Refusal In Young Children

Infant anorexia is also known as infantile anorexia and its onset typically occurs within the first three years of life. It's often considered to be a form of separation disorder and resembles anorexia nervosa in the child's struggle for control and autonomy.

Infant Anorexia Photo

We all know that food refusal is one of the main symptoms of anorexia, so if your little one has gone for a long period of time without food, or displays symptoms of failure to thrive, then it's definitely time to get professional help.

In the early 1980's, researchers observed that infants between the ages of 6 months and 3 years, who refused food for more than one month during the transition to self-feeding, were diagnosed with infant anorexia.

Other factors that were considered included:

Distractions during meal times, or infant-mother conflict
Parents overly distraught about their baby's poor food intake
Chronic malnutrition, which results in developmental delays and even stunted growth

Failure to receive proper medical and/or psychological treatment during this phase can result in serious consequences and permanent damage.

The unhealthy ways of coping that are learned during this stage of life will become increasingly solidified, and will only serve to maintain the disorder for, perhaps, a lifetime.

The diagnostic process will likely involve a child psychiatrist who will observe the interactions between mother and the baby and provide a treatment plan. Prognosis is generally good for infant anorexia if proper counseling is obtained early on.

Continue reading about other early childhood eating disorders.

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