Feeding disorder during infancy and early childhood refers to deficiency in a child’s nutrient intake necessary for appropriate growth and development. Feeding disorders occur due to anatomical and pathophysiological reasons or due to the refusal of feeds without any of these problems. Brain development is very rapid and largely completed in the years of infancy and young childhood, so feeding disorders can lead to growth retardation, frequent infections, malnutrition, and even death. Although some premature babies start oral feeding without any difficulty, feeding problems are observed more frequently in premature and low birth weight infants when compared to mature babies. Both organic and non-organic reasons for feeding relationship problems between the mother and child are seen much more frequently among premature babies. Failure of the infant to reach sufficient maturity anatomically and physiologically, emerging problems in neurological development in the follow-up period and chronic complications of the preterm birth are among the causes of feeding problems. The stress experienced by families of premature babies before, during and after delivery may lead to mental health problems and a perception of the child as vulnerable and may affect the mother-infant interaction negatively, thus creating another risk for feeding problems. Proper monitoring of problems that are organic in origin, in conjunction with approaches that are supportive of the mother-infant interaction and consequently help to prevent feeding disorders, has a positive impact on the child’s cognitive and emotional development and the mother’s mental health.

Keywords: erken doğum, yeme sorunu.