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How long does food refusal last?

4 replies

tomtom1 · 19/09/2010 22:37

For the past 3 weeks my 3 year old has been refusing his main meal, anything other than bread & cheese & yoghurt. He's also been suffering from constipation. He got so distressed after 4 days of not "going" that the doctors gave him a laxative. He now won't have a bath or a shower without keeping his nappy on in fear of pooing in the water! If anyone has experienced this how have they overcome it? I am concerned that he's not getting the nutrition he needs and don't want it to go on for too long. Help!

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scurryfunge · 19/09/2010 22:41

Stop offering bread, cheese and yoghurt and give him the main meal....remove his nappy for showers or bath.

onimolap · 19/09/2010 22:56

9 years and still counting, in the case of DS. He's still the pickiest eater going, and the only thing that stopped me condemning myself as a terrible mother was having DD who is a normal eater.

So hang on to the thought that it's not a reflection on you - they're bringing their own personalities to the table.

On a practical note: you could try lacing a suitable food with lactulose, so the constipation, once initially sorted, doesn't return ( one less thing to worry about! But you might want to check with doctor/HV first).

And find a multivitamin he'll eat to make up for the unbalanced diet.

Then it's the long haul of introducing new foods. Might it be a problem with texture? Try smooth things - even if not brilliantly healthy just to get something different into his mouth - custard? Soups? Baked beans? Hummus? Soft pasta? And give bread in different forms - slices, rolls, brown, white, breadsticks, rice cakes

Eat with him - so he sees consumption. Don't let him fill up on milk. Don't have show downs, elaboate routines or whatever and feed only at mealtimes. Leave any plates if initially rejected food on table for about 30 mins ( permitted "go back" time, then clear and nothing more until next feeding time.

Do everyting you can to seem unfussed - vent here notat him.

Good luck!

hoff · 22/09/2010 15:21

i'm 2 weeks in with my nearly 2 year old.... it's soul destroying. he has visibly lost weight, and he wasn't carrying much spare to begin with.
he used to eat with real gusto, then suddenly stopped. he says he's hungry takes a couple of mouthfuls and pushes the plate away. i can see that a lot of the time he thinks its a game so i just put his food down, dh and i eat with relish and then about half hour later i remove his plate with no comment.
i only give him fresh fruit snacks between meals, limited milk before meals etc...
i'm taking him out regularly to get fresh air and excercise
nothing seems to make any difference

tomtom1 · 23/09/2010 22:57

Hi Hoff, I know the feeling! Everyone keeps telling me it's just a phase but it's hard! I've found a vitamin that he'll take, thinks it a sweet. Just hoping he'll get back to eating soon, it's exhausting trying to encourage him to eat at every mealtime!

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