Refusing solids almost completely

[Anonymous]

Hi all!

Not too long ago, it seemed Sander was just having issues with texture (he gagged). Now, I can’t get him to eat hardly ANY solids. He likes Ritz crackers (I bought the Whole Wheat, then noticed that they aren’t really whole wheat at all. Really angered me, but what can you do?). He will also sometimes still eat his yoBaby. And, occassionally, his dad can get him to eat the “Beef and Mac” strained baby food. But, that’s pretty much it. And I have tried EVERYTHING, it seems…including making my own baby foods, organic frozen baby food, cheese (he will sometimes eat string cheese), applesauce, cereals, mashed lasagna…NOTHING! I admit I am a bit of a health nut (esp. after reading Dr. Sears’ “Healthiest Child on the Block”), so I am not willing to add sugar to anything. I have added butter to some things to get some fat in him…but even then, he won’t really eat it (he’s at the 40th percentile for height, 20th for weight, and his poor head is in the 90th! His Dad is 6’4″ and played football, but I’m only 5’4″ and relatively small…so who knows–but I still feel as if he needs to gain a few).

He literally SCREAMS when I try to feed him anything. He’ll swallow sometimes, but I feel as if I am force-feeding him.

My ped. doesn’t seem to worried…suggested I try a bit of Zantac again to see if that is the issue, though he doubted it was b/c usually it’s the liquids that get ’em going. He was right…didn’t help.

Anyone have any thoughts/feelings/ideas/similar stories…

ARGH!

[Anonymous]

We’re the extreme, so I tend to be cautious. I think it’s normal for them to have food preferences, and to refuse new things or to be cautious. He’s not even a year, so I would just keep offering new things. One technique that’s worked for us, is to offer different varieties of the same food, and then slowly make a change that way. So for example, if he likes macaroni noodles, try putting different sauces on the side, or different shaped noodles with cheese sauce. Or if he likes whole wheat ritz crackers, maybe try cheese ritz crackers, and then try goldfish crackers. If things persist and there’s no improvement, given his history of reflux and gagging, I might see if you can get some professional advice.

Also, I would make note of the kinds of things he likes- are there certain textures that he prefers over others? Certain ones that he avoids? Exposure to various foods is important even if they don’t eat it for many MANY times.

As for the sugar, I agree that sugar isn’t the best thing, but I wouldn’t go overly worried about it. But that’s just my opinion. I used to avoid sugar for Sarah- only pure apple sauce, unsweetened everything, and then she started daycare, and her exposure to the real world couldn’t be prevented. I don’t know if it’s because she was deprived of it early on, but she now has the biggest sweet tooth I’ve ever seen!!! Hailey on the other hand was given sugar from a very early age b/c we’d do anything to get her to eat and gain weight (almost literally), and she doesn’t go ga-ga for sugary things. I personally think moderation is the key.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t worry to much. I didn’t eat any solids until I was 15 months old (sorry folks, I know I have posted this a lot, but I am just hoping it helps people feel better). My mom said I would scream if she brought any food close to my face. Now I eat anything and everything. I don’t have any issues and in fact when I was a little girl, I liked whole wheat bread over white, and my favorite dessert was red peppers…no I am not kidding.

[Anonymous]

Glad to know I am ok to try a bit of sugar. Maybe adding that to his sweet potatoes will work…lord knows I like them better with my Splenda! I’ll keep trying different foods, too. We have a Whole Foods near us, and it’s easy to grab their “grab-and-go” prepared foods…so I can start there. Thanks

b’s mom…you just made me belly laugh re: the red peppers! Reminds me of my friend’s 2-year-old who literally only likes fruit…even lemons. Thank you for telling me about your screaming with solids until 15 months. I suppose I will keep up with his Good Start as long as I have to do so. Any advice on whether that “Stage 2” stuff is good or not (for over a year, I think, right?)

[Anonymous]

Isaac is not a big eater at all. We occasionally do give him sugary stuff but try to push healthy things first and if that fails we do give him sugary stuff. We are doing stage 3 food now and nutritionly we were told that was fine for now.

[Anonymous]

Kashi makes truly whole grain crackers in three varieties; 7 Grain, Cheese, and Ranch. I usually buy the 7 grain but I’ve tried them all and they are pretty tasy. In fact that’s what they call them; TLC – Tasty Little Crackers. Myles is very picky eater, as was my middle child, and he lived on these crackers for months (though he did eat baby food as well). I didn’t mind his cracker addiction since these are so healthy.

Eliana didn’t eat any table food whatsoever until she was 18 months old. She was very resistant to trying new things. Now she’s a terrific eater and will eat almost any fruit, berry, melon or veggie.

One thing that has helped Myles some (at Sanders age he wouldn’t eat baby food either) was to give him special toys to play with at meal times. A mom here (Thais) said her son’s feeding therapist recommended it and I tried it with Myles. I’d keep the special meal time toys put away and only take them out at mealtimes, and I’d sneak bites of baby food in as he was playing. He learned to love just about every baby food they make.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! You know what’s funny? I actually have the Kashi Honey Wheat TLCs in my cupboard. It never occured to me to try those (duh! ). When he gets up from his nap, that will be the first thing I will do.

I’m also relieved to hear about Eliana not eating solids until 18 months, though I am so sorry that YOU had to deal with that, of course! But, knowing that she is now healthy and an eater does my mind good.

Isaac’s mom…what sugary foods does he like?

[Anonymous]

Christine,
I know I’ve asked you about these before, but are the Kashi crackers you have 100% whole grain or just partially whole grain? I’ve only found the ones that are partially whole grain. Still much better than nothing of course! Just wondering.

Also, sandersmom, I’m probably overly paranoid about these things, but you might not want to give Sander anything with honey until he’s one. Just what I’ve heard – I know they change these recommendations all the time.

[Anonymous]

Heather,

Hmmmm……I was so sure they are 100% whole grain. I don’t have a box right now so I can’t check (I put them in a ziplog bag and threw the box away). I’ll have to check the next time I buy a box.

[Anonymous]

Oh, gosh…I never considered the honey part! I mean, I knew heisn’t supposed to have honey, but I guess I didn’t think about the honey in the crackers! YIKES! I’ll ask my ped if maybe the baking somehow destroys the possibility of botchelism (ok…I haven’t a clue how to spell that). I’ll let you know. THANK YOU for reminding me of that!

I just checked the box…the cheese flavor is only partially, but the others seem to be whole grain.

[Anonymous]

That’s what I thought…..I don’t usually buy the cheese.

[Anonymous]

Alexis did not eat solids until she was 18 months as well! We were on pureed forever! We were very careful with sweets with her as well, I guess since it was our first, now that’s all she wants. Taylor will eat when she is distracted by toys, I have toys that stay at her highchair so that is the only place she can play with them, she opens her mouth to put a toy in I sneak in a spoonful of food. It gets really messy but it does work. All the toys of course are covered in food but most of it ends up in her mouth! She is strictly on pureed and a few cheerios and puffs but nothing much beyond that right now and she is the same age as Sander. Regarding honey, our peds said do not give pure honey but if it cooked into cracker etc it is okay. In regards to sugar our dietician recommended pure cane sugar instead of regular white sugar to be added to foods if needed and we are to give her 2-3 tsp of oil (flaxseed) to help fatten her up and also 1/8 avocado a day.

[Anonymous]

Okay. I’ll have to keep looking for the 100% crackers then.

And… I’m glad someone knows what’s right about honey. I was always told not to give any form of honey until one. It’s good to know!

[Anonymous]

The scary thing is, Sander won’t eat pureed, either. He screams even with his YoBaby. I imagine he is tired of the taste, but when I try something new, that goes about the same. I can definitely tell he isn’t comfortable with chewing yet, so I get the solids. But, what worries me is that he HATES to pureed now, too. I literally can ONLY get him to eat Ritz crackers. Even the cheese has become the enemy over the past couple of days.

ARGH!

I appreciate the notes on the pure cane sugar and honey crackers. Good to know!

[Anonymous]

Is he teething? Whenever Taylor teeths she refuses foods even foods that she would eat without problems before.

[Author]

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