ABSTRACT
Feeding is a basic interaction which should develop into a pleasurable state that is nourishing mentally, physically and emotionally. Feeding difficulties can be helped within five to seven sessions quickly and effectively, provided the therapist has personal insight into her own unconscious reactions, sound knowledge in infant research and development and supervision of such work with parent–infant psychotherapists. A mother’s previous depression, psychiatric difficulties, abusive or neglectful attitude, traumatic pregnancy and/or delivery may underlie feeding problems, especially with certain babies who find mood changes in the mother intolerable. The grandmother allowed the baby to grow fat in her arms, feeding at her own pace and talked to her daughter, letting her become stronger and more knowledgeable about life, events and babies. Traumatic and post-traumatic feeding disorders can come about as a result of hospitalization or as a consequence of choking on a piece of food or something introduced in the mouth by accident.
