Inpatient Behavioral Feeding Program
The Inpatient Behavioral Feeding Program at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin provides intensive behavioral assessment and intervention for children with feeding disorders.
The program includes:
- Ongoing assessment of feeding problems.
- Development of a behavioral treatment plan.
- Reduction/elimination of tube feeding to encourage hunger and increase motivation for oral feeding.
- Intensive feeding therapy with a pediatric psychologist specializing in feeding disorders.
- Training and other education to provide parents the skills necessary to respond to behavioral problems and maintain successful oral feeding at home.
- 24-hour supervision for children who require physician and nursing care for fluid and nutrition intake.
Goals are individualized for each child, but may include:
- Improving quantity of oral feeding.
- Increasing the variety of foods and textures accepted.
- Decreasing mealtime behavior problems.
- Teaching the child to associate hunger with feeding.
Children are admitted to the program for about a two-week inpatient stay when:
- Medically necessary.
- Outpatient treatments have been ineffective.
- Their nutritional and weight status is adequate for intensive behavioral intervention.
- Parents agree to be present for all meals during the hospitalization.
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