ABSTRACT
Theory and research on child development emphasises the notion of 'achieving milestones'. Within the first few months of life, children will require feeding on demand until they reach the weaning stage. To understand what constitutes normal feeding, it is important to briefly review children's developmental milestones and feeding and to discuss what we define as a functionally viable diet. Specific quantitative or qualitative research into the developmental, cognitive and appetite regulation aspects to feeding disorders is absent within the literature. A feeding disorder may also be attributed to a child that suffers medical consequences because their diet is characterised by poor dietary variety. Secure attachment is the only style of attachment with positive outcomes, where both parent and child feel at ease with one another. The descent into feeding disorder through poor attachment can occur directly through psychological dysfunction, but there are also some biological repercussions.
