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Original poster

Worried about DS

11 replies

Posorneg1 · 16/03/2022 09:07

He’s 5. This morning I noticed his school pants were lose on him even though they used to fit him fine. A few weeks ago FIL made a comment about a photo of him that I sent and said that his face looks ‘drawn’ I didn’t take too much notice as I thought he looked fine but now with his school pants it has set things off in my head. I have just done his BMI and it says he is a healthy weight. He’s never had a big appetite and is quite fussy. He eats all his breakfast most mornings but can leave little bits now and then. Obviously I am not there at lunch at school but I always ask him if he ate it all and he always says “some of it but not all of it” Then dinner at home he barely eats any of it and it’s a battle to get him to eat the rest of it. He will cry and say that it’s making him feel sick. He used to love macaroni cheese but now he’s saying that it makes him feel sick. Apart from this, there are no other issues. He is full of energy most of the time. I think I will make him an appointment at the doctors but in the mean time does anyone have any ideas what could be going on?

OP posts:
TheMooch · 16/03/2022 09:19

I think I'd keep weekly weigh check.

The refusal to eat food and you not sure if eating lunch makes me raise an eyebrow. You need your detective skills for this...
Is he constipated? A Dr's check may help with this.
Has he had a recent choking incident making him scared of food
Any anxieties? E.g friend issues family upset loss of pet?
Possible food intolerance e.g dairy and the mac cheese is genuinely making him feel grim.
Any increase of tummy aches/headaches?
Sleeping OK?
Quieter than usual?

Have you looked at recent photos and compared to older ones? Sometimes we are too close, don't see gradual changes.

It could be absolutely nothing, but I'd keeping a eye on this.

I'd probably for now do mini portions, they can always ask for more. One of my children has/had food issues and I learnt to put my anxiety of "they have to eat!!!" aside. I'd do buffet type meals, they can pick and create, little portions of different things e.g add a mini salad, bit of bagel, fruit etc.

I hope the Dr helps and you find out what is troubling your boy. And it could just be a phase to give you grey hair...

TheMooch · 16/03/2022 09:23

P.S don't turn it into a battle. It will have long lasting effects. If you concerned about immune system then give a vitamin and maybe a probiotic for now.

Any other development concerns you've noted?

Original poster
Posorneg1 · 16/03/2022 09:33

@TheMooch He’s sleeping ok, he’s not any quieter so no to most of your questions although I have realised he can get quite worked up if he says he doesn’t feel well or for example the other night, all of the lights in our house went out and he got really upset and started crying asking what will happen. So it’s possible he suffers with anxiety. He’s always been quite sensitive. I have looked at photos from a couple of months ago to now and it does look like he’s lost weight but I’m not sure if it’s all in my head. No other development concerns. Thanks for all your suggestions I will take them on board.

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TheMooch · 16/03/2022 09:36

Have a word with his teacher, see if they have noticed any changes in him or something going. And if they've not, they'll keep an eye out.

70sDuvet · 16/03/2022 09:45

Does he take school dinners or a lunch from home?
You could ask the school to either send any leftovers of the packed lunch back in his lunch box so you know exactly how much he ate, or ask if they can keep an eye on how much of the school lunch he is eating and let you know.

My DS used to love school dinners but then I was notified by the school thay he had stopped eating them and was throwing more than half away. He was coming home hungry (I was making him wait for tea). As I had put it down to him being in for longer days (jumping from 2pm to 3pm or 4pm with clubs). They also now make him take home any leftovers, which they don't do with all children just so we can keep an eye on him, as suddenly aged 8 he's become a fussy eater.

chilledteacher · 16/03/2022 09:47

Might be worth taking him to the GP just to rule out coeliac disease. If he's looking drawn, losing weight and is refusing foods like pasta that's what I would be thinking. That's how my son was diagnosed, he stopped eating pasta and bread and said it made him feel sick.

Googlecanthelpme · 16/03/2022 09:54

@chilledteacher

Might be worth taking him to the GP just to rule out coeliac disease. If he's looking drawn, losing weight and is refusing foods like pasta that's what I would be thinking. That's how my son was diagnosed, he stopped eating pasta and bread and said it made him feel sick.
I was thinking this?

Maybe causally introduce some other meals which aren’t gluten based?
If he’s not big on eating meals, what about snacks? What does he enjoy, can you casually take him shopping with you one time and ask him to pick some snacks out? See if you can up his calories by using things like apple and peanut butter for a snack, a protein shake - they sell nice chocolate ones ready to drink in the chilled section.
I’d try to be causal about it but I’d definitely try to see if it’s ALL foods he’s avoiding or just certain types.

I’d also be checking in with the school too and making a GP appointment.

Original poster
Posorneg1 · 16/03/2022 09:57

@70sDuvet He has school dinners but I’ve been thinking of putting him on packed lunches so I can see how much he’s eating. He says he still wants school dinners though so I will have to ask the teachers to keep an eye on it if possible.

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GeneLovesJezebel · 16/03/2022 09:57

I’d be giving him a multivitamin if you’re concerned about how much he’s eating.
Has he grown taller ? I found with my son that he would fatten up a bit, then grow taller and look thinner, and that cycle repeated as he grew.

Original poster
Posorneg1 · 16/03/2022 10:06

@chilledteacher Yes that’s a possibility, he has definitely gone off pasta. He did actually say he wanted macaroni cheese last week so I made it him and after a couple of mouthfuls he said it was making him feel sick. I will get him booked in at the doctors.

@Googlecanthelpme He does snack, his favourites are fruit, yoghurts and raisins. Taking him shopping with me is a good idea

OP posts:
Original poster
Posorneg1 · 16/03/2022 10:08

@GeneLovesJezebel Yes he’s definitely grown taller. He has very long legs. He’s always been fussy, but then when he turned 5 last august he seemed to get a bit more of an appetite and was up for trying new foods but that only lasted for a month or so

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