Mother's touch and infant feeding

The way a mother touches, or doesn't touch, her infant may predict the baby's risk of developing severe feeding problems such as refusing food or malnutrition. Researchers from the Bar-Ilan University, Israel, investigated how mother and infant interactions relate to feeding problems. They observed 20 infants with feeding disorders and their mothers, and compared them to 27 normal eaters with other problems, such as sleep or anxiety problems. Both groups were also compared to 47 infants with no eating or other disorders. Feeding disorders included vomiting and struggling during feeding. Infants were all between 9 and 34 months old. The researchers visited infants' homes and observed mothers and infants during play and feeding. The researchers found that mothers of infants with feeding disorders showed less affectionate touching and accidental touching than mothers of infants with normal eating habits. Moreover, infants with feeding problems showed less affection towards their mothers, and were more likely to push away or hit their mothers, or reject their mothers' touch. The mothers of these infants were more likely to be depressed. The findings suggest that infants with feeding problems and their mothers may have fundamental relationship difficulties. The way they touch each other may predict how well an infant will eat and, subsequently, grow.

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