[Diagnosis and therapy of early mother-child disorder, the so-called failure to thrive in the infant].

Feeding baby's is mostly a gratifying activity for mothers. But when difficulties arise, they can develop into a serious pediatric issue: The so-called non organic failure to thrive (NOFT). In these cases the feeding difficulties are one aspect of the disturbed relation between the mother and her child. Conventional pediatric therapy often fails to achieve weight gain, the babies seem emotionally disturbed and upset during all feeding procedures. Phenomenologically oriented documentation of the quality and type of the diadic interactions allow a diagnosis of the relationship itself and cleans up with terms like "unreliable" mother or "difficult" babies. We present the first review of theoretical background, diagnostic nomenclature and therapeutic concepts in german and wish to address colleagues with a interest in psychotherapeutic methods.