JPHC CE: Beyond “Picky Eating”: Identification, Screening, and Referral for Pediatric Feeding Disorders in Primary Care

1.0 NAPNAP contact hour. This continuing education activity is offered free to NAPNAP Members. For nonmembers, this continuing education activity rate is $10. 

Pediatric feeding disorders (PFDs) affect 1 in 37 children under age 5 in the United States, representing a common yet frequently underrecognized condition in primary care. In 2019, a multidisciplinary expert panel established the first consensus definition of PFD, creating a standardized four-domain framework (medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and psychosocial) that has transformed clinical assessment and management. A recent 2025 consensus further clarified the relationship between PFD and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), providing guidance on diagnostic overlap and differentiation. This continuing education article provides pediatric healthcare providers with current, evidence-based knowledge to screen, identify, and make appropriate referrals for children with PFDs. The article reviews the consensus definitions, epidemiology, validated screening tools, differential diagnosis, risk factors, assessment strategies, and referral guidelines. J pediatr Health Care. (2026) 40, 770-781.

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Participants are forbidden to reproduce, republish, redistribute, or resell this course in any other form. For copyright-related questions, please email your question to: [email protected] 

Copyright © 2026 by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This continuing education activity is administered by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) as an Agency providing continuing education credit. Individuals who complete this program and earn a 70% or higher score on the post test will be awarded 1.0 NAPNAP contact hour.

Keywords: Pediatric feeding disorder (PFD), Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), Screening and early identification, Multidisciplinary assessment, Pediatric primary care

Target Audience

Pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses

Learning Objectives

  1. Apply the 2019 consensus definition of Pediatric Feeding Disorder to estimate the percentage of patients in their practice affected by feeding challenges
     
  2. Utilize the evidence-based 6-question ICFQ screening tool to identify children at risk for PFD during well-child visits
     
  3. Differentiate pediatric feeding disorder from avoidant/ restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and typical picky eating by analyzing clinical presentation, growth patterns, and mealtime behaviors
     
  4. Evaluate feeding concerns using the four-domain framework (medical, nutritional, feeding skill, psychosocial) to determine appropriate referrals and interventions
     
  5. Implement evidence-based anticipatory guidance and responsive feeding principles to prevent feeding difficulties in high-risk populations

 

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Contact hours
Course opens: 
08/31/2026
Course expires: 
10/31/2027
Cost:
$10.00
Rating: 
0


Asma A. Taha, PhD, CPNP, PC/AC, PCNC-BC, FAAN, Professor, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Sarah F. Sahl, RDN, LDN, Assistant Professor, Registered Dietitian,
Julia R. Farrell, P-OTD, OTR/L, IBCLC, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapist,
Amber Wright, DNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS, CENP, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,
Kelsey Frazier, MA, CCC-SLP, Instructor, Speech Pathologist, &
Sylvia Doan, MBBS, Assistant Professor, Medical Director, Feeding Clinic

School of Nursing, California State University, Fullerton, CA

Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC), School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, School ofMedicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
 

Disclosure: 
The authors declare there is nothing to disclose

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None to Report

Correspondence: 
Asma A. Taha, PhD, CPNP, PC/AC, PCNC-BC, FAAN, School of Nursing, California State University, Fullerton &
Oregon Health & Science University, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, 700 S.W. Campus Drive, Portland, OR 97239
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

 

 

 

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Contact hours

Price

Cost:
$10.00
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