5 year old fear of solid foods

[Harryy]

My 5 year boy doesn’t eat any solid foods he will only eat anything that doesn’t have lumps/bits in. Anything I’m able to blend up. He used to drink loads off milk which i have had to cut down to 2 bottles there is no medical reason why he can’t eat a proper meal.

We have got back from the dietitian and have been advices to try and introduction some solids foods again at meal times before he’s allowed to have his “normal” food. He doesn’t have to eat it yet he’s just got to tolerate it being in front off him. If he starts gagging/retching I’ve got to tell him no, stop, we don’t do that ect. If he’s sick I’ve still got to carry on and just ignore him. I honestly don’t think I can go through this again specially now I’m doing this alone and I think it’s to harsh that I’ve just got to let him make hisself sick. The last time we had to did this he didn’t eat anything for a while just had bottles off milk.

I haven't actually tried dry foods but I'm happy to give it ago! Only the last few months he's taking a liking to ice lolly's

Our SALT often suggests 'bite and dissolve' foods as a first step for the children I work with. Food with lumps can be quite tricky as a first step. There are a few nhs websites about these types of food

Just seen your update. I definitely would like at an OT assessment as well, focussing on sensory processing. Our OT and SALT used to run groups together for our children with eating difficulties.

My ds has autism and restrictive eating. Did you see a dietitian who understands the eating problems associated with autism? Have you had a referral to an occupational therapist?

I have been told to keep offering my ds new foods but I should accept him the way he is. But he does eat solids, it might be different advice for you. You need to see someone who understands autism.

Someone I know many years ago who was dealing with this kind of problem with a younger child was advised to try pom bear crisps, as they melt in the mouth. She literally had to snap off one leg and start with that, work up to bigger pieces until her DD was able to eat a whole pom bear without gagging.

Sorry to hear you're having a difficult time OP! That sounds so stressful.
I'm going through similar with DS1, he's recently started eating sausages (cut up small with no skin) and dry pasta and I'm thrilled, he's 7yo.

Like your DS, he gags if you try to force anything, he has physically vomited when he was forced to eat something. He has a complicated medical history but it's only recently the head of the paeds department has started to treat this as a completely seperate issue. (He's with several other depts for different problems)

I agree with pp DO NOT TREAT HIS DISLIKE OF FOOD AS BAD BEHAVIOUR. Sorry, but it won't help. By all means be strict, but always be sympathetic and understanding.

I left STBEXH over a year ago due to DV, I bring this up because the current theory we are working on is that the stress is an underlying factor. Since leaving him DS1 has ongoing play therapy alongside his hospital appointments. A big part of what we're focusing on is sensory play. The idea is to get him used to different textures and hopefully he will experiment with food. It's working, slowly, but it's working. It might be something to consider as an option if you're open to it!

Thank you he doesn't have to put any food in his mouth yet he's just got to tolerate it being in front off him with what he'd normally eat which he freaks out over

if he's taken a liking to ice lollies, that is a good option for getting some vitamins into him. Freeze Pureed banana, mango, strawberries, blueberries etc, it may not solve the issue of solids but may boost his nutrient intake.....if he is happy then puree some steamed carrot and add in with the fruit , then try peas etc....The more varied the fruits and vegetables the better.

Could you try building up. So perhaps instead of it being right in front of him, it's near him at the table, and then try moving it closer, until it's on a side plate or even on his plate, but he doesn't have to eat it. Lots of praise for each milestone reached. I assume he is OK with solid food being on the table in front of other people, if he currently eats with his sisters and yourself?

Or build up the time slowly. So it's in front of him for ten seconds the first day. It seems like a really strange concept to me for him to have to have a food he dislikes in front of him before he eats the food he likes.

I totally agree it would be extremely helpful to try and get input from someone with experience of helping autistic children with food aversions.

Has he got any other issues - autistic kids in particular often have sensory issues around food. We struggled a lot and I had to cut out sippy cups (I allowed milk but only in a glass) and used a decent amount of bribery to get her to eat (she barely ate anything). We were told that eating with the other kids at school was important as it gave them good role models.

Ps she does eat most things now but is vegetarian and doesn't like onions still.

Thank you I'd definitely give the ice lollies ago.

Yeah he's fine with food on the table that isn't his I can give that ago BertieBotts

I'm an SLT specialising in feeding and swallowing and I don't agree with the advice you've been given at all.

There are ways of encouraging moving on through stages and helping behavioural and sensory reactions to food but withholding food until new things tried, pushing distressing situations (especially within autism) and telling a child off for a natural and typically atypical reaction are not ones I would suggest!

Lots of sensory exposure to foods (with NO pressure to eat or even touch) - lots of messy play
Always give food they like (whatever the texture) and will eat with others, new things on the side - no pressure or reaction if eaten or not and keep offering again and again.
Ignore gagging completely - don't react with panic or anger - it's a natural reaction to a child struggling with a consistency.
Bite and dissolve foods are great. Just leave them around or on the table to pick at.
Cut the teat in the bottle ever so slightly each week so there is less sucking and more pouring as the hole gets bigger - might work, doesn't always.
Ask for a referral to child psychology as well along side SLT as this presentation is usually deep rooted in emotion, sensory and autism.

My husband has the same problem and he is 36 he will never ever eat vegetables if not blended without bites need be be nice and smooth only potatoes it's the only vegetable he will eat and fish meat that he is fine with it hIs mum never forced him to eat vegetables and I think that she donne wrong so don't worry about forcing your kid it's for him that you are doing it my husband does blame his mum and you don't want that

i recently attended a workshop based on sensory issues. I cant type it all so i am going to attach a pic of the notes for ypuHarryy

Try this with vegetable inside my son love it you can put everything inside meat vegetables cheese

Thank you all for the help! I will give them ago.

What would I do when he refuses to eat anything like today? I've stuck with the one bottle at bedtime but it's taken him a while to go to sleep

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Albeit our son is autistic, it was being at school that encouraged him to eat solid food - by watching other children, his peers, doing so. He started reception at the point of having only puree food and prescription fortified milk. He's now 9 and willing to try most solids, it's taste rather than texture which is now the issue.

As well as encouraging the 'peer pressure' by having him eat with us over the weekends at home (mash & gravy became a favourite), we maintained a routine that - no matter what he ate at school or home during the day - he would always have an 'afternoon tea' of puree'd dinner and puddings. That way we could be sure he had something that he liked, that he'd take in some calories, no matter how the rest of the day went. He actually still has that now (at age 9!) because it's become part of his autism routines.

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Is he not eating anything today because you are only offering things he won't eat or has he refused everything including purée?

He's refused all foods I've done the food he won't eat to start with then offered his normal dinner which he wouldn't touch

He's probably really panicking as the normal has gone differently. Can you start tomorrow as normal and reset so he feels safe again?

hopefully you will see an occupational therapist soon so you can discover your own strategies. I've just given some basic. guidelines that I was encouraged to try.

Another thing i forgot to mention is that a spirt type bottle can be good to get mouth muscles in working order, failing that give him his bottle but trim the teat.