– The clinic develops a personalized treatment plan that includes a consultant in pediatric
gastroenterology and nutrition, pediatric clinical psychologist, occupational therapy, speech and
language pathology and nutritional counseling
– Holistic approach focuses on child’s medical, nutritional, feeding ability and psychological
wellbeing — meaning mealtime battles may become a thing of the past
– It caters to all feeding issues from extreme pickiness to sensory issues or tube feeding
dependence for children with wider health or medical condition
Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, part of the M42
group, has launched a comprehensive feeding clinic designed to address a variety of feeding challenges
in children, including extreme pickiness. This means mealtime battles may soon become a thing of the
past – reducing stress for the whole family.
Children across the globe go through a picky eating phase between the ages of two and five, but this can
begin even earlier. From unusual behaviors, picky eating and swallowing safely to restricted diets, it may
be a struggle for both parents and the child. Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children’s new
comprehensive feeding clinic is more than just teaching children to eat appropriately; its primary
purpose is to help children and their families develop effective feeding behaviors and patterns.
Working closely with the families, specialists at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children will
determine the difficulties in feeding and develop personalized, strategic, and specific therapies to
support in this journey. The comprehensive feeding clinic’s team of experts includes pediatric
gastroenterologists, speech and language pathologists, psychologists and dietitians who collaborate to
create personalized plans to help children overcome mealtime struggles. Together, they will offer
comprehensive evaluations and support for issues such as extreme pickiness, difficulty chewing or
swallowing, sensory issues, tube-feeding dependence, and pain or discomfort while eating.
Taking a holistic approach centered on the child’s medica and nutritional needs, feeding abilities, and
psychological well-being, the clinic aims to streamline the treatment journey and enhance outcomes for
young patients and their families. This includes catering to the needs of all children, including those with
chromosomal abnormalities, congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and
various gastrointestinal problems, including reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis.
Dr. Ala Shaikh Khalil, Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &
Children said, “We’ve noticed that many of our patients struggle with feeding problems. We understand
that mealtimes can be a source of frustration and stress when children are very picky or have feeding
and swallowing difficulties. This is why our team created the comprehensive feeding clinic. Issues range from difficulty handling certain textures to more severe problems like food entering the lungs instead of the GI tract, which often requires tube feeding.”
“Feeding problems in young children are complex and require an interdisciplinary approach. Our
patient-centered approach works closely with families throughout the treatment process to help
achieve the best outcomes. Having all the support available at Danat Al Emarat ensures that families get
a full continuum of care. This means all the support they need is all available in one place, with a unified
set of recommendations, after telling their story just once,” Dr. Ala added.
Crucial psychological support
Dr. Summia Zaher, Chief Executive Officer and Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology Danat Al Emarat
Hospital for Women & Children said, “In our commitment to enriching the lives of the families in our
care, Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children is delighted to launch our new specialized clinic
dedicated to addressing childhood feeding challenges. We understand the profound importance of
nurturing not only our children’s physical health but also their emotional and psychological well-being.
Our goal is to make feeding both safe and pleasurable for the child and their family.”
Dr. Ala emphasized the importance of a personalized treatment plan. She said, “We assess each child to
ensure there are no undiagnosed medical issues, optimize their nutrition, ensure safe and efficient
feeding practices and provide crucial psychological support to both the child and their family.”
