My 5yo is autistic and has severe ARFID (drinks water and eats one item of food only, plus takes a vitamin liquid). Over the past year or so he has stopped eating anywhere but inside the house. Even at school, grandparents etc, he won't touch food (but depending on the day might drink water).
We've tried a hotel for a night recently and he ate nothing, resulting in him throwing up. We are trying again right now - supposedly for two nights - but a day in and he won't touch anything. Even if we gently encourage or bribe with iPad etc, he will take a bite then gag and spit it out.
We want to try an Airbnb/cottage situation too at some point, in case maybe that's different to a hotel, but at this point we feel like giving up. We don't want to cause him stress or make him ill, but this means the end of any holidays or trips away ever. Is that the future we have to just accept? Or should we keep trying?
Most of the experts when it comes to ARFID have no answers except "wait" for things to maybe get better years down the line. I don't know whether to just bring everyone home tomorrow and stop trying. It’s a big waste of money too. Has anyone had experience of this and did it get better? And how long can a child go without any food whatsoever before it's dangerous?!
Not sure if I'm being more unreasonable giving up on ever leaving the house again or forcing him to go without food for the sake of having nice trips. (He enjoys museums, new places etc, most of the time if routine is explained).
Thank you!