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2.5 year weird habits - serious??

10 replies

DDDN · 07/04/2023 00:58

Ok guys this post will be long. But seriously concerned and looking to see if others have experienced this and what has it turned out to be or how was it overcome. I am taking him to GP tomorrow but I want parent/carers perspectives…

My 2.5 year old is a very weird little guy. Was a healthy boy, mixed fed until 1.2 year old. Was a good eater, everything made fresh at home. Breakfast - usually bottle and pureed fruits. Lunch - pureed veggies, home made soups. Dinner - always as a family and was anything we were having e.g lots of stews with home made broth, chicken/beef patties, rice, lentil soup, salads, couscous etc. Fruits and biscuits offered as snacks. Ate well. Good weight. Very
active.

Around 16 month old. His eating habit changed. No longer ate his fave fruits. His nightly smoothly no longer wanted. Breakfast (e.g scrambled egg with cheese, toast with butter and fruit) thrown all over the floor. Milk accepted (I eventually gave in). I usually gave him leftovers from previous nights’ dinner or made him
something e.g lamb broth soup with bread. Stuffed vegetables with flavoured rice/diced veggie mix. Dinner is always something from my home country which requires a lot of steps and home made stuff. Ate lunch fine. Ate dinner fine. Even ate lamb chops on the stick! I did not care about breakfast and fruits as I said maybe he has no appetite or just doesn't like it. I also did not stress because he was not missing any nutrients and had plenty of water, growing bigger, active. His personality also changed - more crying. Hated strangers. Melt down at guests except grandparents, sister and me/DH). I said ok it is a phase. Gradually, he stopped eating meat (kebabs, patties etc) and yellow coloured food e.g lentil soup, chicken stew,
wont eat potato etc. Again, I found ways to cheat, add more nutrients, everything home
made to compensate. Growing fine, language delay. But playing and socialising with those he knows well. Started noticing lots of sensory habits…s.g squeezing 1 eye when extremely happy. Grinding teeth, squeezing hands, constantly rubbing feet on ground. At night, constantly digging feet into thighs (co sleeping) until falling asleep. Nap time same. Summer came, went holiday
for 1.5 months. Could not go anywhere because of his restrictive food. Eating only rice/stews, chicken nugget, pizza and thats it. I made potato stew, courgette stew, aubergine, cauliflower, chickpea etc. Always with home made broth, home made tomato puree, blended the veggie to hide it.

Since 2 months ago, will no longer eat rice/stews - except occasionally, always accept milk and chicken nugget and occasionally eat tomato/basil soup and known biscuits. He will not even have crisps or unknown chocolate/biscuits etc. I have tried decorating food, playing with fruits/veggies, cutting milk out. I have searched youtube, googled, asked around for ways to get him to engage in trying food…all he does is scream (no)put one hand on his eyes and the other motioning go away. He has a good Vocabulary but barely on 2 word sentences. Touches all fruits and bananas - knows their names but will not take one bite.

For the past 2 weeks, he has been digging his feet into me harder, more urgently, crying
because he wants to sleep. I knew he must be missing nutrients etc. I have gotten him magnesium gummy and multivitamin etc. Wakes up around 3 am digging, kicking feet and whimpering because he wants to sleep. I was thinking restless leg syndrome…but this bad?

Personality wise - he is playful, a bit of a loner, loves wrestling/running about, but extremely stubborn, a bit of temper tantrum when routine is off. Not patient.

I have 2 other kids (girls)…none were like this. I feel like something is going on…anyone had a kid like this? What happened? Did things change? Does it seems like ADHD? Autism? Is this a boy thing?

Apologies for the long post….thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
ladydimitrescu · 07/04/2023 01:04

Ok, well first of all he's not a weird little guy - that's not a nice thing to say about him at all.
He sounds like he possibly has ASD, but the GP will be able to help. He's still very little, so try not to worry too much.

loafintheoven · 07/04/2023 01:11

He doesn't sound like he's malnourished - you're pulling out all the stops to avoid this anyway. Lot's of sensory stuff you're describing - it could be ASD. Ask for GP's advice. I have a weird little guy too (and I think he'd agree, and think it was a perfect description and not nasty at all. He is a bit older than yours though.)

DDDN · 07/04/2023 08:56

@ladydimitrescu I’m so tired from all my efforts, all wasted food etc. I feel powerless and have become a little snappy with him. Been told just serve him and if he does not eat, then take it away. But if it is ASD….
@loafintheoven yeah not taking back the weird little guy hhhh. Im on call with GP now but in queue. Everyone has noticed the sensory stuff. He also takes 1 bite of each chicken nugget then does this in repeat. He usually leaves a bite of each one and gives me the plate. Sometimes he noticed he has bitten it and starts crying and will not continue eating. He used to love pizza and now when looking at it, he screams. He is offended by it. I believe he likes the taste of foods…its the colour, texture or image offends him….

Thanks for the reassurance both of you!!

OP posts:
loafintheoven · 07/04/2023 09:17

Let us know how you get on. The nuggets routine sounds a little ASD too tbh.

Schnooze · 07/04/2023 09:21

I’m afraid it does seem asd related. Good luck with your journey. You’ll love your weird little guy whatever, but a diagnosis will help understand him.

musicmact · 07/04/2023 09:26

My 3 year old used to eat really well and also stopped eating well at around 18 months.

I think that's quite common. She doesn't like any vegetables at all ( especially green ). I have to sneak them in. I didn't think this was particularly uncommon for children though.. I try to show her that I just don't care what she eats or doesn't eat in the sense that often I'll put her fave meal in front of her and she says she doesn't like it ( without trying it ). I say ' ok no problem, maybe you'll want it later ' or I completely ignore her and 5 minutes later she'll eat the whole thing.

I think it's a control thing and the more they know you care about it and want them to eat, the more they'll not eat.. I've made my peace with it anyway.

In terms of the leg issues, perhaps he has growing pains ? Does he go to nursery ? What do they say about him ? Take him to the HV if you're worried.

Drumminganimal · 07/04/2023 09:50

Have you had your 2yr check with the HV? I would contact them in the 1st instance.

With the sleep issues, you might find a weighted blanket could help although you would need to take it off when he's asleep.

ladydimitrescu · 07/04/2023 23:42

I apologise op, I now realise you didn't mean weird in a negative way, but an endearing one. My son is currently on the pathway for ASD diagnosis and I absolutely took that the wrong way, completely over defensive of my own situation and I truly am sorry for how I came across there.
You sound a wonderful mum and your son is lucky to have you Flowers

Beamur · 07/04/2023 23:49

Have you heard of ARFID?

loafintheoven · 08/04/2023 11:38

@ladydimitrescu I hope you manage to find your way through the maze. 💐
@DDDN How did you get on with the GP?

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