3 year old with autism hasn't eaten for 4 days

[stressedtiredandsad]

Hello,

A bit of back ground, DD who has just turned 3 was diagnosed with autism in march, although we've known it for a while.

She's always been an amazing eater, will try anything and isn't bothered by texture and taste, she loves food (loved) she can sometimes over stuffs her mouth which causes the occasional choking episode

On Tuesday lunchtime she had some pancake and again, she over stuffed her mouth but she brought it all up really quickly, in this time I think she may have either bit her tongue or cheek as she got unusually panicky and started flapping and jumping into my arms crying. She doesn't usually react that way.

Since then she hasn't eaten and won't let me out food anywhere near her mouth.

Everything I give her she either smells closely or licks but won't bite it.
She's drinking fine, has 2 beakers of orange juice, 2 beakers of water and 2 beakers of milk usually everyday and that's not changed. It's just food. She does usually have movicol but since she's stopped eating I've stopped this as she's just doing a lot of diarrhoeas.

I'm starting to worry more and more. I'm on my own as DH is posted away and also have a 5 year old.
I'm finding DD difficult to deal with and I'm finding her diagnosis quite hard to. I just don't know what to do.

I rang the doctor but he didn't say much and just said see how the weekend goes.

There is no signs or her being poorly, her mood is pretty much the same as usual apart from food. She's playing fine and there are no signs of sores in her mouth.

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

[InPointofFact]

For the time being, would it be possible for you to blend her food into a smoothie and put it in a cup? Or maybe buy pre-made smoothie meals? Just a thought for a short term solution while she is anxious about eating. I definitely think it has something to do with what happened at Tuesday lunch, hopefully she will just forget what happened over time, though I would make an effort to have the whole family eat in front of her and show her that what happened last time was just an accident.

[HotPenguin]

I agree with the smoothie idea. I'd also suggest putting out some snack food and eating it yourself, without saying anything to her. She might just forget about it and start eating.

[Robinni]

Agree with previous posters advice. Try crackers, dry toast, nothing slimy too, nice and plain. Get her to see doc to have her checked over if it doesn’t resolve.

Also, has she or anyone close had covid? - we had it and all still feel nauseous, trouble eating wks after.