Toddlers: 24 Months+

BIG Eating Issues!! :(

It has been a *very* long time since I've been here. So sorry to barge in like this, but I'm running out of ideas.

DS, who just turned 3, is having issues with eating. As an infant we never had the slightest problem, he was great and ate everything. Fruit, vegetables, cereal, you name it. The transition to solid food wasn't terrible, but slow. We were going right along until one day...he just decided to stop. He no longer wanted most things, any vegetables or fruits are now out of the question. He will only eat a pb&j on occasion. He doesn't even like CANDY! He won't eat chocolate, or any other sweets. It got to where I was letting him eat chicken nuggets a lot because it's all he would eat (now sometimes he won't even eat them). I don't like doing that, it's not good for him and it's getting expensive for us. But usually things he will eat, are carbs...bread, pancakes, bread sticks.

The worst part is that not only will he not eat most things, but even if I present him something, say a halved strawberry, he will gag by even touching it. The stranger thing? He still puts random stuff in his mouth. That's the biggest thing that I don't get, the stuff that he picks up off the flood doesn't make him gag? We made progress today, as he tore apart a banana and fed it to me. He even put his mouth on it, but as soon as some of it got in his mouth he started to gag. Baby steps

We have met with a child psychologist who specialized in getting children to eat...after meeting with him and trying some things DS didn't eat for 2 days! I have been a part of programs that can't figure out what's going on, and for some reason my pediatrician doesn't seem concerned at all! The only thing I haven't tried (much to the dismay of several family members) is basically starving him until he eats.

In the back of my mind I blame my mother, who got some sick pleasure out of feeding him things that she knew he would make faces and gag...olives, lemons. I'm no longer even speaking to her...she knows the issue I have and she made it worse.

The amount of foods he will eat decreases almost daily. I am doing all that I can to get the nutrition that I know he needs in him any way that I can, but it's getting harder. I haven't found any other children like DS, and I'm running out of ideas. Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciate!

Re: BIG Eating Issues!! :(

  • You need to find a new pedi stat and explain this. The whole situation is much more extreme than a battle of wills with a toddler who will eat eventually.

     

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  • Ditto on the new pedi--you need to figure out if it's a feeding aversion or a sensory issue. You can have him evaluated and start feeding therapy. A lot of SLPs and OTs do feeding therapy.
  • Hi, I"m sorry you're struggling with eating. We've had our fair share of feeding issues. I highly recommend an OT evaluation and feeding therapy.  I'd also ask for a referral to a pediatric dietician. 

    We just completed a feeding team assessment and my son will be starting individual OT with plans to transition to group therapy in the summer. There is definitely help, and it sounds like you and your son need it.  The stress around meals and feeding can be just terrible :( 
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  • How long has this been and has he lost weight?

    I think that is really important. If we are talking a month, that may not be an issue. Kids go through weird control phases. sure, it can be a larger issue but one step at a time.

     

  • NEW PEDI. One thing to check--DS has had eating issues, but not this bad. Turns out he was incredibly constipated!!! He is doing better since being on Miralax. Good luck. How frustrating!!
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  • law&order said:
    Hi, I"m sorry you're struggling with eating. We've had our fair share of feeding issues. I highly recommend an OT evaluation and feeding therapy.  I'd also ask for a referral to a pediatric dietician. 

    We just completed a feeding team assessment and my son will be starting individual OT with plans to transition to group therapy in the summer. There is definitely help, and it sounds like you and your son need it.  The stress around meals and feeding can be just terrible :( 
    This.  My DD has some oral sensory issues and there are certain foods that are major triggers for her.  We have caught her holding grapes in her mouth for like 20 minutes.  He needs help.  This is not a toddler I'm not eating that battle.  Good luck
  • Just curious- my nephew has serious sensory issues but these didn't start at 3- they were there long before that. That is why I was asking how long it has been before getting very nervous. Sometimes nerves and doctors can make it worse.
  • It definitely sounds like he could benefit from feeding therapy. This is more than a simple toddler battle of wills.
    S- March 09 E- Feb 12 L- May 15


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