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Eating problems with 6 year old. I need help...

3 replies

blackchloe · 08/07/2012 22:06

My 6 year old has always been a fussy eater. She is very slow eating and dinners are often a battle. She really isn't bothered about food and is small/ underweight with a 3 year olds bone age. Recently tearing and drinking has got worse . She was sick a few weeks ago before her dance class and she now thinks she is going to be sick every time she eats. She has burst into tears twice and had panic attacks at her last dance classes because other children have felt sick or mentioned the word sick. We have tried two tactics to make her eat. Firstly nagging her, secondly ignoring it in the hope that she will eventually be hungry . Neither tactic has worked and I am really worried. She also insists now on sleeping with a tissue in case she is sick. Any advice would be appreciated as lots of tears are being she'd in our house at the moment and think that a trip to the doctors may be the only solution.

OP posts:
blackchloe · 08/07/2012 22:07

Sorry that should say eating not tearing.

OP posts:
DeWe · 08/07/2012 23:44

Firstly, fear of being sick is a real phobia. I know someone who had it badly and she would completely freeze if she thought she might be sick.

Secondly, I know that if I've been sick after eating a food it can take a long time before I can eat that food again. I still can't stand even the smell of baked beans after pregnancy with dd1 who's nearly 12yo.

Thirdly: I struggle with eating. But the worst is feeling an expectation of me eating. The higher the expectation, the harder it is to eat. So try not to let your stress show.

What I'd suggest: (but you may have already tried) give her small amounts. Don't give her a whole plateful. And don't do any expectation of finishing. Think of any mouthful as a bonus.
Try things that may be easier to eat-eg. boiled egg and toast. Or even without the toast, if she'll just eat the egg. Or soup in a cup.
If all she will eat is the same thing then stick with that. When she's feeling relaxed about eating you can add small amounts of different things.
Try not having a set meal time. Put out a plate with a small sandwich, a piece of tomato, a few crisps. Say to her that you'd like her eat that over the evening and then leave it. Don't mention it again. If she takes the sandwich and nibbles it while watching TV, that's fine. And if she's nibbled round the sandwich, but not more, then praise her for that.
Don't worry about the tissue. If that makes her feel better then let her have it. if she'd rather a towel over the pillow then let her. Taking away something she gets comfort from won't help.
If she likes them then go for high nutritional items. Banana, avocados, milkshakes.

But if she isn't getting a full diet in then you probably need to see the GP and ask to be referred. Round here they do have a paediatric dietician (I think that's the term) who is available to help children in similar circumstances. I know one whom she helped and he now eats fine.

blackchloe · 09/07/2012 08:38

Thanks. Lots of helpful advice :)

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