FEEDING OF INFANTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Abstract

Infants with special health needs constitute a heterogenous population that includes a wide variety of developmental disabilities and chronic illnesses involving the whole body systems therefore these infants require an essential nutritional support which enable them to achieve and maintain a desirable weight, to avoid nutritional imbalance, and to develop physical and mental potentiaL

Nutritional support for infants with developmental disabilities and CNS diseases is highly individualized and vary widely so for Down syndrome, antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as zmc, copper, manganese and selenium along with glucosamine, tyrosine and tryptophan are considered key to the treatment. For autism, vitamin B6 and magnesium supplementation were found to improve attention, speech and self stimulation activities. For spina bifida, ascorbic acid supplementation was found to be essential. For cerebral palsy, intake of energy dense foods of correct consistency with glucose polymers and high energy drinks, .is recommended,