If this were your toddler would you consider giving vitamin drops?

[ShadeofViolet]

DS2 is 3.2 and has ASD

He is always been very funny with food but he is getting worse. At the moment he is surving on Babybels, raisins, grapes and baby ricecakes. He drinks three bottles of milk a day and cups of apple and kiwi smoothie. He does eat quite alot of these things so I am not overly worried about quantity. We have tried lots of different tactics but he cant cope with mealtimes so generally just grazes.

He hasnt lost much weight, but he is very small for his age, he only weights 27lb. We see a dietician but she is on maternity leave at the moment and we cant seem to get another appointment with anyone.

Is he badly missing out on anything? Our paed only ever says she has seen worse children so not to worry

I'm always a bit about vitamin supplements tbh partly because a lot tof the time the vitamins are poorly absorbed.

He sounds like he is getting plenty of certain vitamins, but I guess he's missing out by not having an extensive diet, though I would say that my ds who is 3.10 eats a similar range of foods adn isn'[t ASD and seems pretty much like most of his pals.

I'd push for a bit more info from your paed. There is probably nothing to worry about and I wouldn't think it'd make any difference to his behavior - it is not a bad diet iyswim, and the evidence wrt diet and ASD link is lacking. But it'd put your mind at rest at least.

Sorry I don;t know more about the topic.

yes I would give vitamin drops.

I would also try bribing him into eating a more varied diet. I know this doesn't always work with children who have asd but it did work with ds1 and it worked well.

Thanks

Colditz - I havent tried bribing as I dont think it would work. His understanding of language is very poor so that he only understands a few words. When his receptive language improves I will definately give it a try

I just worry that his diet isnt very balanced, and he might be missing out on Iron. He is very pale and the Dietician recommended a blood test to rule out Anemia but I worry about putting him through that, especially as last week he kicked a doctor who tried to listen to his chest

Have asked Paed for an appointment to discuss it with her so we will see what she thinks.

Lots of iron in dried apricots. Could you chop them up like raisins and sort of hide them in with them?

I read about a teenager once who had only ever eaten jam sandwiches and he was the picture of health.

I am afraid its taste, texture, apperance, smell and feel

Cheese, fruit, rice and milk. Not too much salt or sugar. It doesn't sound like a bad diet to me.

I can understand the iron concern but there is a vitamin which helps you absorb iron if taken at the same time so maybe vitamin drops would help.

I don't think I'd worry too much about this diet and I'd be wary of putting pressure on because you could make things a whole lot worse. Go with it unless a health professional has concerns, I'd say.

Its an odd diet, but there is a lot worst.

Which vitimens are you thinking of supplementing him with? He will have plenty of vitamin A and C with that diet. At this time of year he should be OK for vitamin D provided that he goes outside occassionally and he doesn't have really dark skin.

I am not a doctor...

If it were my dd as she is a skinny minnie too I would get vitamin gummi bears (from boots I think) try and get him eating some more carbs (pasta or potatoe or rice or bread) and add 'spatone' iron supplement (tis just like water) to his juice or smoothies. Raisins contain iron so he is getting some.

Do your best and as long as his appetite is ok and he is lively and active, try not to worry too much. I wish I could go back two years and say that to myself!

Well vitamin drops certainly won't hurt him, and might make you feel better.

My father is an expert on nutrition and causes of cancer. My children eat (and have eaten since they were weaned) the healthiest, well rounded diet that you have ever seen. My father hounds me to give them vitamins on a daily basis. On his recommendation I give them a multi vitamin and 1000iu of Vitamin D (and that's on top of white skin and we live in Los Angeles).