My 3 year old won't eat anything

[Newishmom]

I am very worried about my child she's not eating anything I try talking to her tried a pediatrician trying to everything the only way to get anything into her is formula is she can survive of this? If not can anyone else tell me their stories?

It's cows and gate and I bought one of the nursery so I am giving it in today with bottles @Superscientist

She needed more bottles today :( @GameWheelsAlarm

Op how is she with yoghurts or mashed banana, or things like chopped up grapes or strawberries, how long is this going on?

She's been like this since age 2 she likes bluey yoghurt and sometimes like fruit especially strawberries @stayathomer

That’s definitely something x so difficult!

I think she had arfid it's not her fault she's mostly eating formula @stayathomer

Bad news no food last 3 days just bottles idk what to do@GameWheelsAlarm

It’s a long process. The most important things are getting calories into her and making her feel safe and not pressured around food.

My son with ARFID would only eat spaghetti bolognese if the pasta and sauce were separate on the plate with a gap between. One day he put one strand of spaghetti on his sauce. Eventually he started having the pasta on top of the sauce, for a really long time. And then one day he announced that he wanted the sauce on top of the pasta, like everyone else. He’s eaten it like that ever since. But the process took time and it went at his speed. Honestly, it will work. Try to relax and make sure she’s getting enough calories to keep her going while you make other foods available for her to try.

@StuntNun it's just so hard to keep on going yk she's not improveing

I got the diagnosis she has autism and arfid I fell so weird

@Beamur@BoredZelda-@BunnyRuddington@GameWheelsAlarm@Gremlinsateit@HighburyHope@LoafofSellotape@Meadowfinch@MrsTerryPratchett@Nothankyov@PerspicaciaTick@Sixtimesnow@StuntNun@Superscientist@Unexpectedlysinglemum@Unexpectedlysinglemum@pinenuts75@stayathomer

It’s normal to feel weird about a diagnosis like that. There’s almost a grieving process for the child you thought you had. Then you get on with the child you actually have. How has her rating been lately? Has she been more relaxed about food?

@StuntNunshe has only had her bottles for the last wile I am getting worried

My DS was like that age 2. Paediatrician told us to stop the formula (and milk) as he was just filling up on it.

We had a hard 10 years with a very limited diet (ARFID). He is now 15 and eats normally. At 13 he decided he was hungry and had enough and really wanted to get over it.

@MeridaBraveshe wouldn't eat anything else I am seriously scared she will starve

Perhaps you could try foods for babies.

@Pryceosh1987are thay expensive

3 year olds don't willingly starve themselves. If you keep giving formula your DC will be full so feel no need to eat. I'd give milk early morning and late night. During the day I'd offer water in a cup and choices of 6 or 7 foods at each meal plus a couple of snacks. After a few days your DC will be hungry and eat. That is what GP advised my niece when she wanted milk all the time.

OP have you tried letting your dc watch a tablet whilst eating food? I know it’s not recommended but I found my dc more inclined to eat when favourite cartoon was on - if dc likes Bluey you could say “we can watch Bluey and you eat some dinner.” Dc happy to let me scoop food into their mouths while eyes glued on the screen.

It is very stressful but you have to smile and say yummy and make sure you are eating the same food at the same time as important for dcnto se you eating too!

My child with ARFID would willingly starve himself rather than eat a food that wasn’t one of his safe foods. When he was a toddler he only had three safe foods that he would eat and he drank a lot of milk. @Newishmomhave you been given any advice along with her diagnosis of ARFID?

My DD was a food refuser. At its worst she would eat macaroni cheese (home made) it’s very common they will only eat white foods. Texture plays a big part so smooth was better. Wouldn’t eat potatoes not even chips. White fish such as sea bass worked. I would cook spaghetti in a pan full of vegetables so that the nutrients would be absorbed.

Good luck. It’s overwhelming but my daughter is 15 now and a fairly good eater.

I'm sorry I literally just go up out of the bed the only advice I was given was to expand her plait but like that's very hardg especially since she's keep on regressing @caringcarer@PirateQueeen@StuntNun@OhamIreally