For children and young people with CP, eating and drinking can present challenges because CP can affect the way that muscles contract, the opening and closing of the mouth, and the movement of the lips and the tongue. Some may have difficulty with chewing and swallowing (dysphagia), and saliva control can also be an issue.

Some children and young people with CP suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (where acid from the stomach rises into the esophagus/food pipe), which makes eating uncomfortable or painful. This may be improved with medication or by adjusting their sitting position and posture.

The environment can play a part in how well your child manages to eat and drink. At home, they are less likely to be distracted, so they can concentrate while eating and drinking, and mealtimes can often take longer than average.

At school, this can be difficult as there are more distractions and mealtimes are set at a certain amount of time. Make sure the school is aware of your child’s needs and situation, and that staff understands how to help if your child is struggling to eat and drink. Check what processes the school has in place to support them effectively.

It is important to manage any eating and drinking difficulties for children and young people with CP to maintain their respiratory health, improve nutrition, maximise their independence and support social connections.

It’s important that children with CP are monitored regularly for eating and drinking difficulties, as chest infections (from accidentally breathing food into the airway) can sometimes happen.

Their healthcare team will probably include a physiotherapist, dietician and speech pathologist, who can help you make sure your child is receiving the right nutrition and to reduce the risk of problems, such as aspiration. They can also provide you with advice on diet and meal frequency so you can best support your child’s healthcare needs.

Some general suggestions may include:

• improving your posture while you are eating
• modifying food and fluid textures so they are easier to swallow
• using feeding techniques and equipment
• therapies to improve oral-motor skills and reduce the risk of aspiration.

Some children with CP will not eat orally and require feeding through a tube – this is called PEG feeding, or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. PEG feeding may be needed for a short time to overcome digestive issues, or it may be needed over a longer term. Children are still getting the nutrients they need if they require PEG feeding.