(Feeder growers)
Failure To Thrive & Feeder Growers
Failure to thrive (FTT) is associated with abnormal growth and development because of under-nourishment. Children are diagnosed with failure to thrive when they are born prematurely or their weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of other children of similar age and sex.
FTT is usually the result of improper nutrition and food intolerance, or associated with a medical condition (e.g., cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, congenital heart disease, severe allergies), infections or a metabolic disorder. Failure to thrive is normally managed through feeder grower programs.
HealthBridge Pediatric Failure To Thrive Services
When a child suffers from FTT, the challenges are significant to get your child to consume enough food and nutrients. At HealthBridge Children’s, we are here to provide the specialized care, utilizing targeted feeding techniques, to enable your child’s body to properly develop.
Feeder Grower programs for infants. If a child is suffering from FTT because of premature birth, the moment an infant is weaned from a feeding tube in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), we understand the importance of designing a targeted feeder grower program to help a child gain weight and receive proper nutrition. For an infant, treatment may include intense monitoring by nursing staff, specialized formulas and parental guidance and education.
Feeder Grower programs for kids. If an older child is diagnosed with FTT, it could be the result of social and environmental factors and will require a holistic approach. In this case, the situation would be assessed by a HealthBridge board-certified doctor and dietician. Based on their assessment, an individualized treatment team would be developed that may include: a registered dietitian, occupational therapist (sensory, coordination), speech therapist (swallowing), social worker (family, environment), psychotherapist, and medical specialist (cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist, etc.), if FTT is a result of another medical condition.
Failure to thrive is a serious and complicated medical condition. While the solution seems simple (more food and nutrients), it can involve a number of complexities. At HealthBridge Children’s, as your healthcare provider, we are committed to provide your child with the highest level of compassionate care on his/her road to recovery.