Trouble Eating, Need Input

Re: Trouble Eating, Need Input

• acaudill75 member

  January 2013

  I don't know much about AR in babies, but I do know that while DD1 could handle purees at 4 months, DD2 was 6-7 months before she would take purees (or stage 1 foods). She is into stage 3 stuff now, but it took a while for her to not gag on things. And my daughter is 24 lbs (at 8.5 months; not sure about how much she weighs now). Maybe the AR medicine is making her food taste weird? Like screwing with her her taste receptors? I know some babies reject the stage 1 stuff after a while because they are too "grown up" for it. Also, DDs wanted to feed themselves. You mentioned that finger foods she does well with. Have you tried to find finger foods that will meet her nutritional needs but not gag her? Maybe she just wants to eat at her own pace, and not baby purees anymore. They will start to drop bottles of formula and replace them with water and milk as they get older. If she isn't gaining weight, that is another issue altogether, but as far as being disinterested in what you are giving her, try something else she can feed herself.

  

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• oliversmommy32912 member

  January 2013

  ninthgirl:

  Obviously your pediatrician's advice trumps, and I don't know what he or she said, but have you tried more filling/high calorie solids instead of just increasing them?  Fruit and veggie purees and cereals are nutrient dense but not calorie dense.  Try avacado slices, regular (not low or no fat) Greek yogurt, cottage cheese (unless that's a texture issue), shredded cheese, fine meat purees, etc.
  

  I was going to say the same thing. 

  My niece had a lot of problems gaining weight. She only gained an ounce from her 9 month checkup to her 12 month checkup. The pedi recommended only giving her high-fat foods and adding oils to low fat foods to make them high fat. For example she would give her avocado, cheese, and then a fruit mixed with a teaspoon or two of coconut oil or a veggie mixed with a teaspoon or two of olive oil. Within a week of doing this she started to catch up (I think she gained like a pound in two weeks or something like that). Obviously your pedi knows best so check with them but it seemed to work for my sister. 
  

  

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• DogCat&Baby member

  January 2013

  The pedi did suggest olive oil in her cereal.  While as gross as it may sound, we have been doing it and she eats that ok.  I didn't think of coconut oil.  We could try that too with some fruit! 

  The reduction in her formula is baffling me.  It's very similar to before we started her on medicine for reflux.  I'm wondering if we may have to change medicines. 

   

  

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• Mama2TwoBoys

  January 2013

  We have had alot of issues with stage 3 foods as well. The whole gagging and projectile vomiting was us exactly! He loves his puffs and yogurt melts but would puke up anything with a texture in it.
  

  I discussed it with our pedi, and she ordered a swallow study to make sure his esophogus wasn't narrowed. I'm not sure if that's something your pedi thinks is necessary. Ours wanted to rule out the worst first.   He's just fine as far as structure goes, thank goodness.

  She also recommended therapy at our children's hospital, which we haven't started yet. I'm hesitant to do it because of the costs associated (paying for therapy, paying for gas all the way downtown, the costs of missing hours at work...etc).  I'm also trying to see if we qualify for free therapy through our county's Birth to Three program.
  

  Part of my problem is that when I started the stage 3 and he rejected it, I kind of just let it pass. Now I am being persistant with it, trying lots of different flavors and textures. I have to be patient, and I always praise him a LOT when he sucessfully swallows new textures.  We've also noticed that if we distract him while he's gagging (with a silly noise, a tickle or toy), he usually won't puke.

  I've gotten some ideas from my sister's friend's sister (so take it with a grain of salt) that when her little one had a cleft palate repaired, they had to teach him/her how to eat all over again. They used the fingertip nubby toothbrushed and massaged his cheeks and gums so that the textures of food wouldn't be foreign.

  If some of the food issues have only been a few days, it's possible that the recent refusal is because LO is getting sick. We know when our kids are getting sick when they don't want to eat, and before they get a fever or runny nose.

  Check back in with your dr, be patient, and sometimes kiddos just have to do things on their own time.

  GL!!!
  

  
  

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• Nel11 member

  January 2013

  PP have given great advice; I just want to add that since her nutrition and calories should still be coming from formula at her age consider always giving her formula first, and then follow with high calorie solids.  We don't have the weight gain issue, but my LO is not a huge eater either, so it's taken a lot of trail and error to figure out a schedule that gets her consuming enough.

   Also, do you need to do Stage 3 foods?  If she is into finger foods, why not just move to them exclusively?  Maybe part of the issue is that she is not into being spoon fed anymore, and is ready for "real" food.  GL!
  

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• DogCat&Baby member

  January 2013

  Thanks!  This is just the pep talk I needed.  I will focus on her drinking all her formula and 'practice' on the other foods.  There is definitely a chance she doesn't feel well although there is no fever.

  Waiting for the doctor's call back now. 

  

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