Abstract

 

Objective: This study aimed to examine behavioral feeding difficulties in preterm infants compared with term infants and to explore how perinatal risk factors, birth weight, and developmental outcomes are associated with feeding problems in preterm infants.

Material and Methods: A total of 107 infants aged 18–24 months were included, comprising 60 preterm and 47 term infants. Feeding behavior was assessed using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS), and developmental status was evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development–Third Edition (Bayley-III). Preterm infants were further classified as small (SGA), appropriate (AGA), or large (LGA) for gestational age and perinatal risk levels were based on National Neonatology Association guidelines.

Results: Sociodemographic characteristics were comparable between groups. No significant differences were observed between preterm and term infants across any BPFAS domains, although preterm infants tended to show slightly higher scores. Within the preterm group, Bayley-III composite and subscale scores were not correlated with BPFAS outcomes. However, SGA infants demonstrated significantly higher total frequency, total problem, and poor strategies scores than their AGA and LGA peers (p = 0.021, p=0.023, p=0.032, respectively). BPFAS scores did not differ significantly by perinatal risk classification, though higher values were consistently observed in the high-risk group.

Conclusion: Feeding difficulties in preterm infants likely result from the interplay of biological, developmental, and environmental factors. Within this context, SGA infants may be particularly susceptible, with potential implications for later growth and metabolic health. Early identification and holistic, multidisciplinary follow-up that integrates nutritional, developmental, and family-centered care are essential to support healthy feeding patterns and prevent long-term complications.

Keywords: Feeding behaviors, preterm infant, perinatal period, risk factor

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Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

1.
Ömercioğlu E, Mert Karakaya EN, Özdemir G, Ünal Y, Özmert EN. Feeding problems in preterm infants: Associations with perinatal risks and development. Turk J Pediatr Dis. 2026;Early View:1-6. https://doi.org/10.12956/TJPD.2025.1266