Issues with solids

sroddy12

Anyone else's baby have issues with solids? LO is a 31 weeker and will be 1 yr old actual age in 2 weeks. He refuses to eat any solids and will gag and throw up if i put the tiniest piece of food in his mouth. He then proceeds to cry and will not open his mouth for anything. We have tried table food and stage three food with no luck. He will eat stage 2 with no trouble.

Anyone have any advice or words of encouragement? Am I expecting too much? His pedi is concerned and has referred us to a speech therapist to help with tongue movement while eating.

sroddy12

Thank you both! Do you know what the difference is between the speech therapist and occupational therapist? Do they focus on the same things with eating? Or should I be requesting one or the other? As of now, my pedi recommended a speech therapist but I believe the help me grow program would offer an OT. Thanks in advance!

thishappyhouse

sroddy12:

Thank you both! Do you know what the difference is between the speech therapist and occupational therapist? Do they focus on the same things with eating? Or should I be requesting one or the other? As of now, my pedi recommended a speech therapist but I believe the help me grow program would offer an OT. Thanks in advance!

 

ST and OT do similar things with infants when addressing feeding issues.  We saw an OT while in the NICU struggling with bottle feeding but saw and ST for a feeding consult through EI.  There are some speach therapists that exclusively do feeding therapy and there are intensive feeding therapy clinics out there for babies/kids with rather severe feeding issues.  

 

I think some things that the ST will suggest will help immensely.  good luck!  

rslhmg

BostonKisses2:

Preemies are prone to oral aversions, so it's possible that could be going on as well. nbsp;The ST should be able to help him get the idea of solids.

This. Our development specialist told us preemies are also prone to mild sensory issues they outgrow typically by age 3, and the sensory issue can cause texture issues. So far we are on cereal stage 1, but DD has an issue with the cereal texture and won't eat it, we are trying the multi grain next to see if she can do the texture with that. Stage 3 has a slightly different texture then stage 1 or 2. Hopefully st gets your Lo going good with solids

3litttlebirds

sroddy12:

Thank you both! Do you know what the difference is between the speech therapist and occupational therapist? Do they focus on the same things with eating? Or should I be requesting one or the other? As of now, my pedi recommended a speech therapist but I believe the help me grow program would offer an OT. Thanks in advance!

I am an ST and in my state and at the facility I work, it is mostly STs that handle feeding difficulties. Preemies and children with complex medical backgrounds can have sensory issues and oral aversions. Your LO may grow out of it, but it is a good idea to work with an ST early....even if therapy just focuses on parent education (mealtime environment and how you can best respond to aversive feeding behaviors). Oral aversion leading to a picky eater is no fun. Or an ST can determine if it really is an oral aversion or decrease oral motor skills. Either way...good job for catching it early and for being proactive about intervention! Good luck!  

sroddy12

Thank you all for your help! I will keep you posted after our first session!