WWYD

lemen99

I'm sorry to keep bringing this up, but you don't have to read it

Andrew is getting worse.  Last night he was raging until 9:30, where I finally just read to him on the floor while feeding him and letting him drink, gave him Motrin and put him to bed.

Today he has to be starving. He's barely eaten since Tues.  His ribs are sticking out now.

Today he wouldn't eat breakfast, i fed him yogurt, wouldn't eat a snack.  Put him for a nap and he's sobbing.  of course now he's getting really tired b/c his sleep is getting all effed up.  So I bring him down, feed him part of a granola bar (he wont' eat it himself), because I'm tired of this ***, give him goldifsh in the floor, he eats, and is in bed. 

He's almost refusing to eat, a couple fo bites here and there, unless it's candy.  And every nap and bed time is getting progressively later and later b/c he's so hungry he can't go to sleep.  He's getting tired, fussy, and I hate this.

mbs427

I really don't have any advice, but I'm so sorry you're going through this. 

Is it just that he won't feed himself and wants you to feed him?  What has the pedi said?

::hugs::

lemen99

mbs427:

I really don't have any advice, but I'm so sorry you're going through this. 

Is it just that he won't feed himself and wants you to feed him?  What has the pedi said?

::hugs::

He refuses to feed himself.  He would let me feed him.  The therapist (and we) wants him to learn to feed himself but he flat out won't. He is starving, but still won't.  I think the hope/idea is that he would feed himself if hungry enough, and he will, but literally only 2-3 bites, and is sobbing hungry when it comes to nap/night time.

We had this issue going from bottle to cup, but went cold turkey and it took him a month to drink more than 6 oz a daiy.  I don't know if, in that case, it was that he's THAT stubborn, or if it just took him that long to catch on.  A month is a long time.

I'm not sure what the pedi would say.  I think she would probably say nutrition comes first, but I'm not sure.  Maybe I should call Monday. 

 

mbs427

Maybe having him try to self-feed with each meal, and if no success, feed him...but definitely keep pushing him every time.  I know it's not the same, but that's how we were able to get Evan to drink milk from a sippy, use utensils, etc.  It may not happen right away, but he'll eventually get it.

katelynsmom

I could be SO far off in this, but I wanted to share. 

My nephew was like this when he was Andrew's age. He refused to eat or just nibble (2-3 bites here or there). The pedi wanted him tested for allergies. Turns out, nephew has celiac disease (allergic to gluten). Every time my nephew ate, it was incredibly painful, so he made the connection (kids are super smart) and stopped eating. You could see and feel his ribs and his spine. He was really bad. 

My SIL didn't make the connection to allergies because he ate fine when he was an infant (on pureed fruits/veggies), but as soon as she started to feed him regular food (chicken nuggets, pizza, etc) - most food has some type of gluten in it - he would scream and protest. 

 Anyway, that's just what popped into my head :-)  I hope it gets better soon! 

amstep

OMG.  I really have no helpful ideas, but I'm so sorry.  That sounds awful.  Will he drink?  Could you do pediasure or ovaltine?

mandyallcorn

If you're worried I would give him a pediasure shake. Then at least he's just drinking right??

And I agree. Try to get him to self feed for 5 minutes a few days (and then you help feed him), 10 minutes, 15 minutes.  Progressively push him to do it himself. Maybe he's just that stubborn that he's not going to give in the cold turkey way. 

mbs427

mandyallcorn:

And I agree. Try to get him to self feed for 5 minutes a few days (and then you help feed him), 10 minutes, 15 minutes.  Progressively push him to do it himself. Maybe he's just that stubborn that he's not going to give in the cold turkey way. 

This 

lemen99

Thanks.  I emailed a friend who's son wouldn't self-feed (she has triplets).  and is a 31  week preemie. She said he had texture and sensory problems and did exactly what Andrew does and refused to self fed unless it was gold fish as well, even then only ate a couple of bites.

They already went through therapy and I'm asking her what on earth they did in the mean time.  I hope she has some good tips for me until we're in a better place. She said he eats a little now, but not well.  Here is what she said.

Kathy,

  I am so sorry,  that must be so frustrating.  Baby B went through a period were he would not self feed unless it was puff or goldfish crackers. He was having a sensory issue with anything with texture.  Unless it would dissolve into mush in his mouth he would not eat it.  He refused all proteins.  The OT had us do exercises where we would put these different textured spoon and a vibrating spoon In his mouth.   Eventually this did help. But, I can tell you my boys are both still terrible eaters.  The do sign more, but unless it is candy they usually do not want more.  Both boys say "all done".  The problem is they say this after like 2 bites of food and then cry to get out of the high chair.  Baby A is tiny.  I bought 18 months Jeans and they are to big on him.  So, I am thinking some of this is just part of Being a toddler.   Baby girl on the other hand will eat anything, she is wearing a toddler 2.

lemen99

katelynsmom:

I could be SO far off in this, but I wanted to share. 

My nephew was like this when he was Andrew's age. He refused to eat or just nibble (2-3 bites here or there). The pedi wanted him tested for allergies. Turns out, nephew has celiac disease (allergic to gluten). Every time my nephew ate, it was incredibly painful, so he made the connection (kids are super smart) and stopped eating. You could see and feel his ribs and his spine. He was really bad. 

My SIL didn't make the connection to allergies because he ate fine when he was an infant (on pureed fruits/veggies), but as soon as she started to feed him regular food (chicken nuggets, pizza, etc) - most food has some type of gluten in it - he would scream and protest. 

 Anyway, that's just what popped into my head :-)  I hope it gets better soon! 

I think, like your nephew, Andrew has negative connections to his mouth - reflux probably primarily, he never wanted to eat even as an infant (would sleep 8-9 hours sometimes during the day refusing to eat), a swallowing disorder, sensitive gag reflux, possible sensory disorder, not to mention the ventillator....I think, like your nephew, any bad connection like that can create problems I hope he does not also have allergies,. but we may get him tested if his reflux/infections don't get better and figured all of that out!

 

lemen99

mbs427:

mandyallcorn:

And I agree. Try to get him to self feed for 5 minutes a few days (and then you help feed him), 10 minutes, 15 minutes.  Progressively push him to do it himself. Maybe he's just that stubborn that he's not going to give in the cold turkey way. 

This 

I like this - I'm going to call his ST and see what she says.  Going to call pedi Monday, I think.

Bride7-14-07

I am so sorry Kathy! ((HUGS)) I have no advice, but I really hope things will get better.

lemen99

amstep:

OMG.  I really have no helpful ideas, but I'm so sorry.  That sounds awful.  Will he drink?  Could you do pediasure or ovaltine?

He will drink.  He's drinking a lot to make up for not eating anything.  I'm not sure if letting him drink those types of drinks is better than me feeding him healthy foods, even if the goal is to get him to eat?   I'm confused.  Doh!

IU_baby

That sounds incredibly frustrating.  I'm sorry.

I'd probably try to get some calories in him if he'll drink a milkshake or something.  You could make a smoothie with fruit and yogurt so at least he's getting some nutrition.

chrislynd

I'm sorry, Kathy, but I have no advice, other than that I agree you really need to call his pedi on Monday.  That way you'll know for sure if it's ok for him to be getting this few calories, and for how long. 

amstep

lemen99:

amstep:

OMG.  I really have no helpful ideas, but I'm so sorry.  That sounds awful.  Will he drink?  Could you do pediasure or ovaltine?

He will drink.  He's drinking a lot to make up for not eating anything.  I'm not sure if letting him drink those types of drinks is better than me feeding him healthy foods, even if the goal is to get him to eat?   I'm confused.  Doh!

Other than taking a vitamin (which I'm assuming he won't do), I suggested these just to get a baseline of nutrition into him.  A friend whose little boy has a metabolic syndrome where his body doesn't recognize whether he is hungry or not feeds her son Ovaltine at least once a day at her pedi's rec.  That way she know he has at least a measurable amount of nutrition in him at the start of the day.

Good luck!  

lemen99

I think his ST forgot to give me her number or  I lost it.  Doh!  At least it's Tues.

I'm going to follow the suggestion for now to let him self feed and follow-up with me feeding him.  I don't think this is working at all.