Growth-enhancing interventions for nonorganic failure to thrive.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of two interventions, Calorie Management and Socioemotional Growth Fostering, on (a) the weight of children aged 1 to 3 years with nonorganic failure to thrive and (b) the interaction behaviors of 10 mother-child dyads. Calorie Management, focusing on nutritional intake, seemed to enhance current mother-child conflicts. The Socioemotional Growth Fostering Intervention, focusing on healthy mother-child interaction behaviors, produced a greater weight gain in the children and growth-enhancing behaviors in the mothers.