Toddler won’t eat - posting for traffic!

[Pocketfullofsunshine8995]

DS is 2 in April, since weaning he has pretty much hated food, doesn’t want to touch it never mind eat it.
He lives off milk from a bottle which I know is an issue in itself as 1. He’s filling himself on milk and 2. He shouldn’t be having it from a bottle!
My problem is getting him to even try it, he will vomit at the sight of food. We’ve been to restaurants and had to leave because every time he looks at it he keeps vomiting.
We’ve tried playing with food, leaving food out for him to approach and we always sit and the table for meals.
I’ve contacted the HV for help but she’s away for two weeks. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Or have any advice? Completely stuck and don’t know what to do!

I think you do need some support - vomiting just at the sight of food is extreme behaviour. Does he have any other sensory kind of issues? Is he otherwise meeting milestones and developing?

If it's been going on since weaning, then another two weeks while waiting for HV probably isn't that much of an issue, but I'd be inclined to speak to your GP and ask for a referral as I think this is probably outwith the realms of what a HV is trained to deal with.

Have you heard of ARFID? Avoidant restricted food intake disorder. May be worth looking into.

Has he been checked for any physical reasons for not eating? If not I would go to the GP armed with a list of what he will eat, what you have tried etc

Go to your GP as that’s definitely not normal behaviour. How long has he been making himself (voluntarily or otherwise) sick at seeing foods?

I agree that it seems a very extreme reaction, and you could probably do with some support (easier said than done, I know).

Do you use Instagram?

If so, try following/DMing autism.nutritionist - don’t be concerned by the name of the page, she’s called it that as a large section of her audience are parents of kids with autism but her tips etc will work with many kids, autistic or not, who have restricted eating issues. Can’t recommend her highly enough.

First thing I’d do in your circumstances is let him play with food away from the table with absolutely no talk at all about even tasting it. Just play. Let’s make a face. Oh, you’re putting the red one on the green one. Etc etc.

Oh, and yes, referral onwards for specialist support.

Hi - my toddler was a late weaner (only started to swallow anything at 12 months) and he had a terrible period recently where he was refusing all food but very hungry. We went to a dietitian and it was almost a back to basics approach she suggested. Make being in the high chair fun, give a range of options to my son has control. Bread sticks and dips. Make it back to play. Get the stress away.

Lastly my son doesn't have a big appetite and she said that he could be missing a certain vitamin so he has a daily multi vit in his bedtime bottle.

As others said - I think gp as hopefully they will refer him for more help.

He’s seems to have reached all other milestones fine and doesn’t seem to have problems with other sensory objects, it’s just at food!

Vomiting on sight of food has started about a month ago.

Might be an idea to make a gp appointment whilst I wait for the hv.

Does he eat anything?

Have a look into ARFID. It’s a really complex problem with a lot of associated emotional issues for everyone, not just the child who won’t eat. I’m simplifying but the first step is to look for a physical cause. Malformations of the palate, tongue tie, problems with the diaphragm, etc all have to be ruled out as well as issues like GERD which cause pain which can then be associated with food. If there is nothing physical you are looking at emotional issues (has he had any traumatic experiences with food? Otherwise it can be a young child excepting control over his environment through food the only thing he can control), sensory issues (taste and smell issues are related here) stress and anxiety issues.

I’d go see the GP. Waiting times for specialists are very long. Meanwhile you may want to look up Division of Responsibility which is the main approach recommended. It doesn’t necessarily resolve the problem, especially if it stems from fear, anxiety or sensory issues, but it can make life a little bit easier for everyone. It is very easy for this disorder to dominate everyone’s lives, from the stress of knowing that your child is not eating enough to the limitations on eating socially.

Hi Op, not saying your DS has autism, but one of mine has aspergers and food issues are very, very common with ASD kids.
He never enjoyed food, he has alwys had an incredibly limited diet.
He is funny, clever, interesting, handsome, has friends etc, and still eats about 5 things! He is a teenager now and no better really.
As a child we could never go any where near a cafe/restaurant etc. He would become extremely distressed, cry, total melt down. Retching etc just being near people eating.
I school he sat with his back to every one else at lunch time.
There is help out there, we were referred to a eating clinic or something when he was 3yo. Thats where ASD was mentioned.
There is a specialist clinic in Birmingham. I spoke to one of teh Drs there once she was so lovely and helpful. If you live near Birmingham you can get referred there, if not it is £500 to go privately. Might be worth a chat wit someone there? I'll look for the link.
You're not alone, its common. Just give the milk for now and seek help asap.

It's called the food refusal clinic, although I see Dr Shea doesn't actually work there any more. Still, worth contacting them?

Thank you for all of the advice!

I don’t think he’s ever experienced a traumatic experience with food but he’s used to have reflux as a baby and had to take Gaviscon so maybe something stems for there.

He’ll eat plain rice but even then it’ll only be a couple of mouthfuls if that and he won’t always have it, he’ll normally reject it. Other than that he’ll have a strawberry yoghurt but he will gag a lot on that.