Please or to access all these features

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Has anyone sought the help of a pschologist to resolve their dc's eating issues?

14 replies

ilovespinach · 27/03/2009 13:14

Looks like we will be going down this route with ds1 (2.11). Would welcome any input from anyone who has done this - especially to know if it actually helped or not.

OP posts:
ilovespinach · 27/03/2009 16:15

bump

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 27/03/2009 18:27

what eating issues does he have?

ilovespinach · 29/03/2009 09:46

his food range is very limited we are down to:

plain brown bread
marmite on toast
oat and apple pancake
pasta pesto
bananna
yoghurt
kinder chocolate

Until very recently, he also ate fish singers but then he caught a bug and was sick after eating them. No amount of explaining will get it through that it wasn't the fish fingers. I'm worried thatthe range just keepsgoing down.

He won't try anything new - we've been stuck in this phase for about 2 years now. I've tried the eating with friends, giving praise etc and nothing works.

I'm just worried that this is no diet for a growing child. I try not to make an issue out of it but I think he knows that his dad and I are worried about his eating.

Oh, I forgot, he drinks milk but only before bedtime.

OP posts:
admylin · 29/03/2009 09:56

Hi ilovespinach (have you left us on German chat?) I had this with ds when he was smaller right up to he was 5 or 6 then he started eating more. I took him to the doctor and he always snet us away saying that he was healthy, fit and alert and not extremely under weight. He didn't even advice me to give him any vitamin supplements or anything.

How is your ds? Is he tired alot or very under weight?

MegBusset · 29/03/2009 10:33

DS (2.1) has a similarly limited diet (except he's still eating fish fingers, thank god!). I am trusting he will grow out of it or become more receptive to bribery as he gets older. Seems a little young to be getting shrinks involved -- he's not even 3?

Peachy · 29/03/2009 10:45

DS1 is nione and is going to be seen by a jint APed / CAMHs team over his eating (he has asd and suspected anorexia).

In yuour case I would chat to a GP: a limited diet isn't that uncommon I think at hsi age but if there ae othr sensory issues they may be linked (eg not likng lumpy food, rough clothes certain textures) and possibly looked as as part of a sensory worry- if not though I'd ask to see a dietician and go from there. Or if you can pay go private, wait lists are often massive sadly.

ilovespinach · 29/03/2009 11:09

thanks for all the replies

admylin I haven't forgotten you just haven't had too much time recently....

Ds will be 3 next month and he isn't under weight and has loads of energy. I'm worried that his diet is lacking so much and his reaction if I put something else other than his list of approved foods in front of him.

I spoke to the dr about it on Friday (it's not the first time we have spoken)and she seemed concerned about the foods he eats. I agree there is something going on here - he doesn't have a curiosity of food. I've started toget him involved in the preparation and he likes to touch all the foods and see the colours etc. Meg, I don't really want to get shrinks involved but I feel as if I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
MegBusset · 29/03/2009 11:17

I think that some toddlers just don't 'get' eating. If I forgot to feed DS all day I don't think he'd notice.

Zil131 · 30/03/2009 11:43

Just as an alternative - can you remember (honestly) what you and DP were like as children. MY DS (17 months) has a complete lack of adventure / trust when it comes to new foods; and sadly I can actually remeber being like this. I just "knew" I wouldn't like things and would push them away; and I see exactly the same behaviour in DS. We too are down to a handfull of foods...
I have found sitting next to him, eating the same thing, can encourage him to try a mouthfull off my fork - managed to introduce Pasta this was on Friday - a small but significant step!!

ilovespinach · 30/03/2009 16:53

good idea Zil131 and glad it has worked for you. Have tried this for 2 years and he has never tried a single bite....I just can't see it coming anytime either.

My mom says I would eat anything apart from meat (I am still a veggie).

OP posts:
brightongirldownunder · 01/04/2009 04:25

I don't think you should worry too much. I have an extremely fussy eater who's just come out of a virus where she ate NOTHING for 7 days (drank milk and a tiny bit of pear juice but thats it). She's now just not that interested in most food.
He's still very young and although he's not eating a huge amount of protein I'm sure he'll grow out of it. My sister ate nothing but ham, cucumber and salad cream for the first 3 years of her life and was a skinny as a rake - now she's 24 loves all food (except tomatoes) and is very voluptuous!
I think some mums on here would be jealous that although limited, his diet is pretty healthy.
If it helps I was very sick as a child after eating fish and chips. I couldn't eat it again and still can't but will happily eat seafood and grilled fish - just not the batter.
Does he drink juice? Or smoothies?
I'm not 100% sure if this is ok for a child so young, so you'll have to check, but you could always put some protein powder in a milkshake or smoothie.
If he's not underweight, has lots of energy and realises that you and your DP are worried about him I think he sound like a normal toddler. I worry about DD all the time - her selection is plain weird - gherkins, tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, sushi and corn on the cob. I can throw in most meat and fish but she refuses all carbs - wish she's eat what your son's eating .
Its your choice and `i think a mothers instinct should always be followed up - but try and remember there are plenty of us out there going through the same thing.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/04/2009 19:53

Just seen this thread, ilovespinach. Could have written it myself. DS2 has just turned 3 and will only eat the following:

Breakfast: porridge, buttered toast or yoghurt.

Lunch: Ham sandwich or cheese on toast.

tea: spaghetti with some kind of tomato based sauce, chicken curry with rice, chilli and rice. We are still at the stage of blending the tomato sauce for the spaghetti right down as if there is the tinest bit of onion or pepper that he can see he just doesn't eat any more. same with curries and chillies - I have to blend it almost smooth and then mix it up with the rice. We reached a stage where it was only blended a tiny amount and he WAS noticing the onions and other veg and meat in the food and eating it, but lately it seems to be getting worse again.

He won't touch anything else at tea time. Literally nothing else, including "dry food"
like fishfingers or sausage and chips. I have tried putting those sorts of things in front of him and he literally shrinks back from the seat and starts crying and crying.

He won't touch fruit - he will drink Innocent smoothies (won't drink home-made ones), and will eat half a fruit pot in his porridge.

He has milk at bedtime.

Any junk food in a rustly packet and he is there - crips, biscuits, cheddars. Same with chocolate.

I am in the middle of reading "Coping with a picky eater" and finding it helpful reading that picky eating is normal, but really, I am on the verge of asking if he can get referred to an eating clinic or something. It doesn't help when you see programmes about adults who only eat certain foods and I end up worrying that DS2 will end up on that in 20 years time!

I used to be fussy with food as a child, and so was DH (he still is really). When I was about 17 I turned a corner and now eat anything. DS1 is 5 and is a bit fussy but has never needed sauces blended right down and is happy to eat a much wider range of things and to TRY new things in the first place.

I can't offer any help as I am in exactly the same boat as you, but wanted to show you that you're not alone!

If you find the answer to it then I'd love to know!

I remember a neighbour's kid only eating tomato ketchup sandwiches when I was a child. His mum took him to the doctors and he just said "He looks healthy enough. Let him eat it but just keep trying new things regularly and he will grow out of it eventually." I wish I knew how he'd turned out - lost touch when we moved house.

Anyway, enough waffle....

Barmymummy · 13/04/2009 09:11

My friends little girl is having big probs with eating (she is 6 years old now) and she has been on the waiting list to see a psychologist for a long time. When she was a baby she had a weak stomach muscle and as a result was very sick after whatever she ate. She was well over 1 before she grew out of it but the damage had been done.

From what I remember her foods only include:

Salmon sandwiches
Ham Sandwiches
White chocolate buttons
Tagliatelle Carbonara (Tesco ONLY)
Crisps
Pasta (boiled only, no sauce)
Toast (butter only)
Innocent smoothie (mango only)

As you can see, its very bad and this little girl is 6 so struggles at school due to depleted energy and concentration levels.
I really feel for you all as I can see how stressful this is for my friend. Really hope you get some success soon,xxx

Shylily · 13/04/2009 21:14

I like having professional help if I've got a concern. I know lots of people are happy to battle through, but I think my tolerance levels are lower! (I even paid for someone to help me tackle my 8.5 month old's sleep as I thought I might die if she kept waking for 3 hours a night!)
If I were in your position at the same age I would happily consult a psychologist. If your GP is also concerned perhaps she would support you by referring you to a child psychologist (if you can wait for the NHS) and/or a dietician and/or a speech therapist (depending on whether the GP has any idea of the cause).
Good luck.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page