Please tell me happy stories of children who have grown out of this

[ilovecaboose]

Basic background ds (2) has problems with eating and with food in general. He has been on a wheat free diet for about a month and this has helped his stomach (previously swollen most of the time, painful wind and other lovely symptoms).

We were hoping as his eating was obviously linked to the pain in his stomach that his eating would improve on this diet. It hasn't. It has got worse. NOw he barely eats at all (not even 1 full meal a day - no snacks etc).

These problems have been going on on and off since he was weaned onto solid food really. Since he was a year old they have got worse and worse. We no longer have tantrums, just no interest in the food.

I keep getting told he will grow out of it eventually, but it is getting harder and harder to see that some days. Please tell me happy stories of children who have grown out of it. Please to keep me going.

[shebnem]

my friends son was like that.
he was usually fruit eating type, not interested in meals.
after age 5 he changed he started eating everything.
so dont worry, dont think about it too much.
do small meals for you and him, if he is interested well, if no dont worry, he will start eating one day.

[ilovecaboose]

thanks thats what I needed to hear

[shebnem]

important point is dont make it a big subject between you and him, he feels it too i guess.

[emmatom]

A great help with these type of eating problems is 'peer pressure'!

When your little one goes to nursery/pre/school or sometimes it takes until Reception at primary, and they see their friends eating 'normally', they obviously want to do the same.

[hairymclary]

Has he seen GP et al about his eating problems?
I would take him back just in case there is something else that's making him feel unwell or not want to eat.

[Tommy]

my DS1 is like this - absolutely no interest in food at all - not even sweets, cakes stuff like that - so it's difficult to know what to give him as a "treat" IYSWIM.

I know when he does eat, he eats quite healthily but it's a huge issue for him. I try not to get upset or stressed about it anymore (easier said than done) but I think he may be getting slightly better (he's nearly 5) but loads of friends tell me he is similar to their children who did grow out of it!

Hang in there

[marymoocow]

My dd was a terrible eater. A great shock after ds1 ate whatever you gave him. I made the mistake of getting very cross with her to the point that she would hold her food in her mouth for so long that it made it would make her sick. (not pleasant at the dinner table). It was then that i realised that i had to let her get on with it, and that she would eat when she was hungry. Have to agree with emmatom, in that when she went to nursery aged 3 she started to eat fruit, and now at 6 she'll eat anything, or at least try it.
Hope that has helped. It does seem a nightmare at the time but it does eventually get better.

[ilovecaboose]

Gps shit - not interested at all - I'm just a bad mother - we are swopping at mo because of this. But are losing fantastic HV who has been really good support.

Its just the waiting that gets to me. Thats all it is now, waiting until he grows out of it.

USually I am fine about it, its just every so often that it hits me - nothing to do with returning to uni 2 weeks ago and so not being with him full time or anything

[ilovecaboose]

Thanks for the happy stories - its just what I need to hear, those who have grown out of it

[hairymclary]

Obviously you've had good results with taking him off wheat but i'd really, really badger your GP for proper tests that way you can find out if there are any other issues/intolerances that may be making him feel a bit icky still.

It's worth it, really. especially as his eating has got worse.
Not that I want to put a big downer on it or anything, but he may not just grow out of it and you need to find out if there is anything else you can do to help

[ilovecaboose]

yeah hopefully we'll get some help from new gps as I assume they will do a check up on him.

Old ones just say he hasn't got a problem and I should force him to eat - hence the move.

[ilovecaboose]

these were the same ones who told me the only allergy a child could have was a milk allergy (and adults only had wheat wtf?), and that even if he did have an allergy there was no point doing anything about it (this was after several visits).

We found out about allergies and tried the wheat thing

Though this situation isn't unusual through what I have heard from a couple of others.

[hairymclary]

I hope the new gp's are better. You can get tests done privately if you have the money.

[charliebat]

My dd is 8 now and she had such a pathetic diet that it used to make me cry LOTS. It was awful.
She now eats a healthy enough varied diet, and if in the right mood will try new things. I find putting 2 bits of sweetcorn, peas, carrots, whatever on the plate at each mealtime but not asking them to eat them, ever, sometimes leads to them trying them.
Also food to choose from the centre of the table onto a empty plate. With bread and butter cut into little squares.

[julezboo]

Another happy ending for you,

my ds spent most of his first year in hospital with reflux, vomiting and chest problems, we had major troubles with his eating up until the age of three, it got better eventually, hes stil very skinny but you'll be happy to hear hes now 4.5yrs old and his favourite saying most days all day every day is "mummy Im hungry"

Being in school has done him the world of good, sitting with other children who eat, its a great sight to see )

Do you have other children, or possibly get him in nursery one full day a week so he gets to eat there?

My ds started a private nursery at the age of three and when i explained to the manager how crap he was eating at home, she described a totally differed child and asked would I like him to stay for tea with them as well. Now he eats anything!

[ilovecaboose]

thanks.

Ds is only child and will hopefully be going to preschool next year.

We have been talking about him a lot this week (dp has been off work and so spending a lot more time with him than usual) and after talking to a lovely couple last night we have decided to take him off cows milk and put him onto goats. We still think there is something wrong.

However he did eat half a new cereal bar we brought for him in supermarket tonight so I am very pleased

We have tried every technique going, but I think any behavioural problems around food were caused as a result of physical problem with food. Therefore I think tbh there is no point going all out to tackle the behavioural issues (this has been no good b4) until we sort out any food that is upsetting him.

This would be so much easier with a gps help

Thanks for all the replies - putting it down and discussing it with dp has made me think that there probably is more allergies/intolerences that we haven't found yet.

[julezboo]

I would alos like to add, ds who is 4, still cant handle large amounts of food in his mouth, if he puts in too much, or its too hard he will throw up or not eat it and spit it out, Its hard dealing with a child with food issues honey, so dont beat yourself up!

Can you find another GP or ask to be referred to a dietician, maybe your health visitor would be of more help. I know when i went to my gp he wasnt concerned as ds wasnt underweight, he was small but he put that down to him being premature. Even now hes the tiniest child in his class he looks too small to be there!

Anyway Ill stop rambling lol, just wanted to say you'll get there in the end like we did.

[ilovecaboose]

thanks

It really is nice to talk to others who have gone through similar