04/08/2026
The PediEAT has been used a number of research studies. One of the original studies that established the reference values for the PediEAT was a study of over 1100 healthy children between 6 months and 7 years old.
One of the most important findings from this study was that while Problematic Mealtime Behaviors tend to increase (scores go up) in toddler-hood then start to improve (decrease) around 5 years old, Selective & Restrictive Eating behaviors remain relatively low and are distinct from Problematic Mealtime Behaviors.
So, for children who are struggling with the sensory experiences of eating, the PediEAT can help capture that and identify whether the child's behaviors are within the range of typical or if they need help from a specialist.
To get the PediEAT Assessment Tool, go to the link in my bio and click on "Feeding & GI Assessment Tools".
To get the paper that I refer to in this post, go to the link in my bio and click on "Research Papers."
The PediEAT is a parent-report (i.e., parents complete it) assessment that can help parents and healthcare providers better understand and address feeding challenges.