Who We Are

We are Families, Advocates, Educators, Researchers, and Policy Influencers

Established in 2006, Feeding Matters is the first organization in the world uniting the concerns of families with the field’s leading advocates, experts, and allied healthcare professionals to improve the system of care for pediatric feeding disorder through advocacy, education, support, and research.

Defined as impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction, pediatric feeding disorder is estimated to affect more than 1 in 37 children under the age of 5 in the United States1.

For these children, eating, drinking, and swallowing are painful and frightening – ultimately affecting their behavioral, physical, and emotional development. Yet, there is no functional system of care for pediatric feeding disorder locally, nationally, or internationally.

OUR MISSION

Furthering advances in pediatric feeding disorder by accelerating identification, igniting research, and promoting collaborative care for children and families.

OUR VISION

A world in which children with pediatric feeding disorder will thrive.

Values

  • Collaborative
  • Innovative
  • Inclusive

Collaborative

We partner to ensure every voice is heard, ideas are openly shared, and we work towards a common goal.

Innovative

We take the initiative to leave comfort zones, embrace new ideas, and generate change.

Inclusive

We lead with trust and empathy to invite and value all perspectives.

1. Kovacic K, Rein L, Kommareddy S, Szabo A Bhagavatula P, Goday PS. Pediatric feeding disorders: A nationwide prevalence study. J Peds. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.047