Dietary adequacy, feeding practices, and eating behavior of children with Down's syndrome.

The dietary adequacy, eating behavior, and feeding practices of children with Down's syndrome were studied. Half of the children obtained from their food less than the recommended allowances for food energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and thiamin; children under six were vulnerable to iron inadequacies. Three-fourths of the children exceeded the allowances for protein and ascorbic acid. Contrary to the belief that parents of handicapped children are permissive, parents seemed to control the food consumption patterns of their children by appropriate techniques. Weight status appeared to be compatible with height in the majority of the participants.