6 year old suddenly stopped eating solids

AJOC · 2025-03-10T21:38:10+00:00

Looking for any advice or reassurance - My 6 year old has suddenly stopped eating solid foods. It started on Friday - we noticed her spitting her crisps out. Now, every time she eats, she holds it in her mouth for ages and then runs to spit it in the bin. She isn't in any pain. Originally, she said she felt like something was stuck - but she just shrugs when I ask her about it now. She went to the GP this morning who has checked her throat, and listened to her chest - all is clear. He tried to reassure her that her throat is fine and to slowly start eating food again but it hasn't had any impact. She's managed to eat soup - but that's all she's had for 3 days! She did choke on pasta 6 weeks ago. Her dad was able to remove the food with a whack to her back but she appeared absolutely fine after the incident and was eating totally normally up until Friday. I am so upset and worried and unsure of what to do next - any advice or experience ?

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anonhop · 10/03/2025 21:42

Does your health visitor team cover up to 6 years old?

Otherwise, I'd maybe ask school if anything has happened there?

If you feel it's psychological/physical issue- I'd be focusing on higher calorie liquid/ smoothie stuff. Would she have mashed potato? Then back to GP

If you feel it's behavioural/ rebellious- I'd be stricter & not be giving lots of alternatives. She'll eat when hungry!

But use your gut on this one. Either way, if she doesn't start back soon I'd go back to GP

fluffyblanky · 10/03/2025 21:43

I would say it is related to the pasta choking.

An old friend of mine choked on some food once and the same thing happened.

cestlavielife · 10/03/2025 21:43

Gp can only see so much. She maybe needs an xray and endoscopy in case there is something physical

Original poster

AJOC · 10/03/2025 21:50

anonhop · 10/03/2025 21:42

Does your health visitor team cover up to 6 years old?

Otherwise, I'd maybe ask school if anything has happened there?

If you feel it's psychological/physical issue- I'd be focusing on higher calorie liquid/ smoothie stuff. Would she have mashed potato? Then back to GP

If you feel it's behavioural/ rebellious- I'd be stricter & not be giving lots of alternatives. She'll eat when hungry!

But use your gut on this one. Either way, if she doesn't start back soon I'd go back to GP

Thank you for your reply - it's so hard to tell! Family members think that I'm pandering too much and she'll end up taking advantage of the extra attention - but I'm so conflicted because if I don't advocate for her, then who will? I think I'll take her back to the GP and see if we can get a referral to investigate further. If physical is ruled out, then I can work on either psychological or behavioural!

OP posts:

Original poster

AJOC · 10/03/2025 21:51

cestlavielife · 10/03/2025 21:43

Gp can only see so much. She maybe needs an xray and endoscopy in case there is something physical

Yes, I agree. Thank you

OP posts:

Original poster

AJOC · 10/03/2025 21:52

fluffyblanky · 10/03/2025 21:43

I would say it is related to the pasta choking.

An old friend of mine choked on some food once and the same thing happened.

I have been back and forth with this one but thought as 6 weeks had gone by, it was less likely! I'm not sure how their little brains work though :/

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Onlyvisiting · 10/03/2025 21:59

I had a relative as a child who stopped eating anything solid at about 8ish. Has described it as not being able to swallow as things felt stuck. Spent weeks and weeks only eating things like blended soup and meal replacement.
This was 30 plus years ago, Dr and I think psychologicist diagnosised it as a school stress issue and recommended removing from school. She was home educated after that and the condition resolved.
Obviously if that happened now I would hope for better treatment options ie therapy- but don't forget the possibility of a mental health issue/eating disorder if you can't find a physical cause. Little kids show stress in weird ways.
And please don't be tempted to be 'strict' with her, this really doesn't sound like a just being picky issue. If she was only wanting treats or junk or something in particular then maybe, but just quietly not being able to swallow solid food doesn't sound like a behavioral issue to me.

CatStoleMyChocolate · 10/03/2025 22:13

Could it be teeth or throat-related? She could have a wobbly tooth, perhaps?

Original poster

AJOC · 10/03/2025 22:19

CatStoleMyChocolate · 10/03/2025 22:13

Could it be teeth or throat-related? She could have a wobbly tooth, perhaps?

She does have a wobbly tooth at the front, but has lost 4 already and had new, big ones come through.
I'll be keeping an eye on that tooth - thank you for your reply

OP posts:

Original poster

AJOC · 10/03/2025 22:23

Onlyvisiting · 10/03/2025 21:59

I had a relative as a child who stopped eating anything solid at about 8ish. Has described it as not being able to swallow as things felt stuck. Spent weeks and weeks only eating things like blended soup and meal replacement.
This was 30 plus years ago, Dr and I think psychologicist diagnosised it as a school stress issue and recommended removing from school. She was home educated after that and the condition resolved.
Obviously if that happened now I would hope for better treatment options ie therapy- but don't forget the possibility of a mental health issue/eating disorder if you can't find a physical cause. Little kids show stress in weird ways.
And please don't be tempted to be 'strict' with her, this really doesn't sound like a just being picky issue. If she was only wanting treats or junk or something in particular then maybe, but just quietly not being able to swallow solid food doesn't sound like a behavioral issue to me.

There have been a couple of little falling outs at school. I may speak to her teacher this week to see if she can shed any more light on how she is in school- even if it seems small. I hate the thought of her struggling with something. I suffer with anxiety myself so I wouldn't be overly surprised if it was a psychological/ mental health issue! I'll definitely keep investigating! Thank you

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Kat7612345 · 16/07/2025 22:10

Hi
I was just wondering if you managed to sort anything about your child not eating. My 6 year old son has refused to eat solids since yesterday and said he feels like he can’t swallow, he’s not ill or anything. He’s hungry but can’t eat food but can drink water or milk.

Original poster

AJOC · 16/07/2025 22:43

Kat7612345 · 16/07/2025 22:10

Hi
I was just wondering if you managed to sort anything about your child not eating. My 6 year old son has refused to eat solids since yesterday and said he feels like he can’t swallow, he’s not ill or anything. He’s hungry but can’t eat food but can drink water or milk.

Hi,

Sorry to hear your DS is struggling to eat! It's such a stressful time as a parent!!

We did eventually get to the bottom of it - it was anxiety around choking! She said she kept thinking about the pasta that got stuck! We didn't go for any extra tests at the Dr's and just tried the "no pressure" approach (whilst secretly I was freaking-out inside).
She started to introduce some "safe foods" and I'll be honest, it was junk - but I allowed it to get the calories in! So she had chocolate (let it melt before swallowing) soup, yoghurts and then eventually, she'd try jelly or weirdly a bread stick!! She'd almost seem surprised when food managed to go down!!
I emailed the school and they were great, someone sat with her at lunchtime and in a non obvious way, had a "catch up" to try and distract her at lunchtime and eventually she started re-introducing more foods! We went on holiday to Turkey in April, and by the time we got back, she was back to eating completely normally again!!!

Having said all that - she is struggling with some anxiety around food in particular!! She is terrified of catching a sickness bug and still mentions choking now and again!

I wonder if there's anything he's worried about in regards to food?
Have you been to the GP?

I really hope it resolves itself soon x

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Kat7612345 · 17/07/2025 11:14

Hi thank you for getting back to me.
He was eating a sandwich and then suddenly started saying he couldn’t swallow and then it’s been like that since. He gulps water crying saying he can’t swallow. It’s so odd. I’ve took him to doctors and an and e and they said there’s no obvious reason why he’s being like it. But they haven’t tested him for anything so it feels very scary and frustrating. So pleased your daughter is so much better now x

momof21985 · 02/11/2025 23:35

Hi my 7 year old started doing this 3 weeks ago after a choking incident the week before. I am doing pedisure for now but wondering if anything has helped.

BlackSwan · 03/11/2025 18:12

I had massive issues around food/swallowing food as a kid. Developed an eating disorder. Had massive pressure from parents to eat. Well, in fact, abuse really - so bit of an extreme example.

The most important thing you can do is not pressure your child to eat. Just make food available and let them manage it. They won't starve. If you want there's a helpful book called 'How to Get Your Kid to Eat...But Not Too Much' by Ellen Satter. That's the fundamental message though.