While an interdisciplinary team approach is frequently recommended for the management of more complex feeding difficulties, the role of the parents as a member of the team is critical and should not be overlooked.  A family centered approach that involves parents in prioritising and setting realistic goals can result in more successful outcomes [14].  Providing parents with education and training is also essential as parents may struggle to implement strategies for which the benefits are not fully understood.

For some children feeding development will be slow.  Parents frequently express feelings of frustration and may struggle to continue implementing suggested management strategies.  Ongoing support and measuring changes in terms of parental attitudes and feelings and not just the child’s progress can be beneficial.  Providing realistic expectations of change is important to parents.

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