Beyond worried

[missrosex]

I'll try to keep as short as possible, I have been going on to HV, GP etc about my sons eating for about a year and I feel so unheard. My son is 2.8years old and I couldn't name you a handful of foods he eats. From 12 months old he rejected the spoon and all liquid form foods. Witch limited what we could give him but fine he was still eating finger foods etc. As the months went on his appetite became smaller and smaller, spitting foods out, gagging, putting his fingers in his mouth and now today there is not one food I can't tell you I'm certain he will eat. We have tired everything we offer him so many different things, he may have one good day and then weeks of eating next to nothing. Go back a year ago he was on the 70th percentile for his weight and today he is on the 10th percentile. My son is Gradually falling off the weight chart and I don't know what else to do. I'm sick of hearing kids will be kids or he will eat when he is hungry because we are now 3 days in the eating literally next to nothing. He has so much thirst and will drink and drink all day long but not eat. I have tried limiting the drink in hope he eats more but it doesn't work, he has no interest in food. I've had all the leaflets with advice and things to try nothing works. Please anyone help, I feel like if this continues for much longer my little boy will fade away as a mum all I want is a healthy child.

@chesirecat99 please could I get the recommendation? My DC2 is PDA and v restricted eating. Weight is fine though because we facilitate them to eat their few safe foods in large amounts at frequent intervals throughout the day. Can't do formal mealtimes, the social pressure of sitting at table is too much and behaviour becomes panicked.

Hi OP
You've had lots of great advice.
My youngest was like this and has gradually improved to the point by 9yo he was pretty much eating "normally". Though he is still pretty fussy and will cover most savoury things with ketchup. Still a vast improvement on the less than 8 tolerable foods that lasted for about 3 years. We tried everything really - doctors, paediatrician, dietician, speechie, OT. I can't say anyone really helped except for one thing I think did sort of work.
You get a piece of food ( anything solid you'd like him to eat) and put it in his hand, the next day touch it to his wrist, then elbow, then shoulder , then face, then lips, then tongue. It sometimes worked as they are so familiar with it by then they just eat it or at least give it a taste and maybe decide it's ok.
Hope that makes sense and that your little one is well and just a horror to feed as mine was.

Could you maybe ask your GP about high calorie meal replacement drinks (e.g. ensure). I'm not sure whether any of them are suitable for under 5s but the GP should know.

My ds would barely eat. I cried on holiday when he was 1 as he simply didn’t eat anything other than fruit. The dr said it was a phase-didn’t help to hear that at the time. He is now an extremely healthy vegan-unlike the rest of us in my family!
As long as your ds is checked thoroughly-insist he is, even if he’s having a melt down, then as hard as it is, try not to worry. Offer plenty of food-I used to hide food for my ds to find, but don’t worry what is.

Also to add two of my 3 are adults now. 1 (the fussy one) has improved massively and whilst she's not a veg fan she will eat most other foods. The second (arfid) is better she has a routine of foods she eats and has two meals a day. The youngest with asd eats like an average child now I would say.
I was diagnosed with food phobia as a child (now would be called arfid) upto about age of ten I ate two foods (yoghurt and crisps) it's gradually increased over years and improved significantly when I was old enough to cook for myself. Now I do eat the majority of foods. I know it doesn't help now but just to give you hope it will improve.

It is The Child and Family Practice, @BoxedOut

tcfp.org.uk

Ask for referrsl to feedi g specialuat SLT
kerp a foid fiary for the week evety thing and quantity
Ask fir community dieticisn referral
Ask for routibe bloidtests evdn you hzve to hokd him down

Feeding Slt
They have therapists who work with you on eating

I would ask about food intolerances