Abstract
The Neonatal Eating Assessment Tool (NeoEAT)–Bottle-feeding is a parent-report assessment of bottle-feeding behavior in infants less than 7 months old with evidence of validity and reliability. The purpose of this study was to establish norm-reference values to guide score interpretation and clinical decision making. Parents of 478 healthy, typically developing infants completed the NeoEAT–Bottle-feeding. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the following age groups: 0 to 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 7 months. NeoEAT–Bottle-feeding total scores decreased with increasing infant age. The Gastrointestinal Function subscale contributed the most to the total score and decreased across the first 6 months of life, then stabilized in the 6 - 7 month age group. The 90th and 95th percentile values for the total score and subscale scores can be used to identify infants with problematic feeding, guide referral, tailor treatment, and assess response to treatment.
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