ok here goes…

[Anonymous]

I apologize, b/c this is going to be long. But I know some of you on here may be able to read this and possibly help me.

I’m having an incredibly difficult time with Kaden and his eating. This has been ongoing since he got off of stage 2 jars of babyfood at 16 mos of age. I gave them to him b/c it was the only way he would eat veggies despite the fact I would reintroduce real veggies over and over on his tray. I am almost embarrassed to write out what his menu is today- the things he’ll actually eat. One thing I do know is, that I am tired of hearing “picky eaters are created not born”. ughhh! DH and I try relentlessly to get him to try new things. Kaden’s measly menu consists of: Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, yogurt, frozen waffles, crackers, occasional slices of cheese, soy milk and sometimes diced pears.

Kaden will not entertain the idea of a new food and what is convincing me now more than ever that something is “wrong” is his behavior about certain things. For example: he’ll ask for a peice of bread and if it is too soft and a tiny bit sticks to the roof of his mouth, he goes into complete hysterics, gags and throws up. I guess I should mention that Kaden had reflux as a baby that was never treated and eventually outgrew it about the time a doctor finally said “oh it may be reflux- give him maalox”. It’s gotten to the point now where Kaden will dip nuggets or hot dogs in ketchup, lick the ketchup off and throw the meat down. It seems to me the food has to be smooth or crunchy (dry) or he won’t eat it. If it has to be chewed up or is messy to eat he won’t touch it. The other night I brough out pasta for him to try (noodles with butter only) and he became so upset at the sight of it, he put his fingers down his throat and made himself throw up. I’m really at a loss. I’m not sure if this is normal “almost 3 yo behavior” or battle of wills or if I need to have him seen by someone.

Please help. Any ideas welcome!

[Anonymous]

I wish I had more answers but the only thing that helped us is when Colton could eat what we were eating. We made him take a bite of whatever we were eating. He didn’t always like it but we continued with the rule of one bite of our food. He never did well with jarred food and we had to make our own. Also noddles for Colton were horrible. I wonder sometimes if it was because the could easily slide down his throat. Colton these days will ask to try anything we are eating. We never force the issue but he has learned that he will be eating at least one bite so now he just ask. My husband had a salad one night and I am thinking there is no way this child will ask for a bite but he did and he loved it. Now my husband has started making his salads a little larger. Just don’t give up and just because it didn’t work the first time doesn’t mean that it will never work. Hope this helps at least a little.

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel any better, I still give Kaelyn stage 2 fruits and veggies if she asks for it, especially squash, sweet potatoes and pears. She started asking for them when we were giving them to Kaelyn. She will pick and pick at “solid” fruits and veggies and hardly eat any, buy then she’ll down an entire container of stage 2 food and ask for more. I figure that it’s better than nothing. Plus, I rationalize it by saying that the pears are just like “pear sauce” since she can’t have applesauce and the squash and sweet potatoes are just like the mashed versions.

[hellbennt]

hmm…if you’re worried about textures etc then I’d maybe make an appointment with a speech person? I know it sounds funny that it would be a speech person but I *think* that’s who helps with chewing, textures etc?…

my sister went to a spec’lst for my niece & was told to give crushed graham cracker in her yogurt to help w/ texture- start very very small- like a few ‘grains’ even- and then slooowly work your way up until the yogurt is thick w/ the crushed graham cracker…this is the only tip I have…

[Anonymous]

My dd has a feeding aversion. It’s much better now, but far from perfect. She’s always had sensory issues with textures… still does. Today she cried at the apple pie she made (I put a bit on each of the girls’ plates for them to taste, and Hailey started getting anxious just from the mushiness of hers. She threw it on the floor saying “no more pie”). I personally wouldn’t force him to take a bite of anything. You can offer and you can try different tricks (which I may have posted about in another thread so I’ll try to dig it up). But what I would do is what Laura suggested- get him evaluated by a feeding therapist. That way they can give you suggestions on how to move forward. It’s not typical for kids to get that upset by certain textures, but not uncommon for it to manifest itself as feeding problems stemming from reflux. I’d check it out, and try not to force the issue in the meantime. Give him what he likes. Try to cut things up differently and re-inforce positively for tasting. Be creative. Keep it stress free. I’m not a big fan of forcing, but that’s just me. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your replies! They are all helpful!

I think I am going to have him checked out by a speech therapist first and see what his/her thoughts might be and go from there. We are moving really soon and will be in another state by the end of the month, so I’ll have to find someone once we move and use your tips to get by until then. I will keep you posted!

[Anonymous]

Getting to this late, but also, I would make an appt with OT as well as speech. An OT will be able to tell if it is a sensory problem. Does he have other things that bother him, like the tags in shirts, if the socks are not on exactly right, etc… It would be more of an extreme than what you are describing, but something to consider…

Also, I second the Lori post that it could be more residual effects of the feeding adversion. Babies are pretty quick to pick up on “if eating hurts..”. Even if Kaden is over the reflux, they still get into the place where they will only eat certian things.

Dylan is/was MUCH like Kaden. His foods consisted of like 5 things for a VERY long time. Being in the preschool has reallly helped because they do try what the other kids try. He still won’t eat all the foods that we do, but his variety is slowly increasing. When they told me they would increase his variety, I said flat out “Maybe other children but there is NO way you will get Dylan to take a bite”. I was wrong….

Hang in there! It may just come in time and ignore all those STUPID comments like it is your fault!!!

[Anonymous]

ok, you just clued me in. I am convinced now more than ever that he needs to see an OT too. He is obsessive about tags on his shirt and if the line on the top of his socks do not line up perfectly on his toes or “feel funny” on his feet. His blankets have to lay perfectly over his feet a certain way when he’s sitting on the couch, etc. There are all sorts of things like this with Kaden that I cannot think of right now and I never knew these could be sensory problems. One of my concerns is that he may have erosions that never healed from reflux from when he was an infant and that it still may bother him. I think testing would traumatize him terribly at this age though.

[Anonymous]

Jill, there is a GREAT book called “The Out of Sync Child” that might help give you lots of great ideas. Can’t remember who wrote it, but if you do a search you should be able to find it….

Also, instead of testing, can you ask a GI for Nexium or something to try? I think Nexium has something in it that helps heal erosions. That way, after a while on the meds, he might feel better and you could avoid testing all together. Just a thought…..

Let us know how it goes!!!

Ann Marie

[hellbennt]

there are posts w/ links to info about sensory integration disorder- it fascinates me…

do a search for ‘sensory’ and you’ll find them

And, I JUST sent this link to a friend yesterday:

Sensory Integration

http://sifocus.com/sensoryawareness/faqs.html

[Anonymous]

jill—it could be behavior issues just because he is almost 3—-i have one child that has always been a VERY picky eater—he is 24 and is still not a good eater. i used to hold chocolate chips in front of his mouth to get him to open it—-then i would quickly slip food into his mouth. an evaluation by a therapist might not be a bad idea—if nothing else, it will rule problems out.

as far as the sensory issues—this was something i did not know about until i heard alot of people on this board discuss it. i think that i have a problem with sensory issues—maybe it is part of my fibro. i always say that i think i feel things that other people don’t hear. it can be a real bummer not to “feel good” in your own skin. good luck!

[Anonymous]

Jill – It does sound like some sensory issues to me. I worked in Early Intervention for a year and helped set up families with Occupational, Physical and/or Speech Therapy. OT always FASCINATED me because I never understood WHAT exactly they did in therapy sessions…I would just always sit at the re-eval meetings and hear the parents say “Oh my gosh my child will finally take a bath without screaming…eat anything I put in front of him…let me lay a blanket across him…touch certain textures…you name it!” It’s really amazing and definitely WORTH IT! My best friend has her DD in OT right now for texture/gagging issues and just after 2 weeks EVERYTHING is already better. (used to hate baths, loves them now…used to gag on everything…eating more, she even started walking finally!)

Anyway, I know you said you’re moving so the timing isn’t great…but definitely look into services wherever you end up. Good luck!

[Author]

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