Pediatric Cerebral Palsy

Trouble Eating with Cerebral Palsy

Many infants and children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience difficulties when eating and drinking, putting them at risk of nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition.    The problems these kids experience with movement, muscle control, and motor function as well as behavioral issues can make it difficult to feed themselves, chew, or swallow. Some kids will struggle more than others due to their varying degrees of disability and some will require significant help at meal times. 

Infants that struggle with swallowing and chewing will have a slower progression to solid foods than other children their age.   Digestive problems, like gastroesophageal reflux, are also common in children with CP which can make eating uncomfortable. 

These difficulties with eating can lead to insufficient caloric intake, growth limitations, and malnutrition.   Being dependent on someone else to eat and drink safely will also impact an individual's quality of life.

Estimating the nutritional needs of a child with any type of neurological impairment is not as straightforward as it is for other children.   Just like anyone else, children with CP require a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, sometimes they may need to eat more or less depending on their level of activity and muscle tone, or how tense their muscles are at rest. A child with a low level of activity and low muscle tone will expend less energy and need a lower caloric intake than a child with a high level of activity and high muscle tone.

Kids who can't walk or who have trouble consuming adequate nutrients are at a higher risk of low bone density or having weak bones.   This is why children and adults with CP often also have osteopenia, a condition where the bones are weakened due to decreased calcium, making it more likely for their bones to fracture or break. Other common nutrient deficiencies in kids with CP include vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, zinc, magnesium, and copper.