Autism food strike

[NewYearNewMeMamma]

Have also posted in Neurodiverse Mumsnetters as well. My DD4 has always eaten a decent amount of food albeit very particular with what she eats. We've had a list of safe foods which we rotate for a long time and have had no issue with these. For the last 5 days she's seemingly gone on a food strike and I've got no idea what we do. I'm quite certain she's not unwell and her teeth seem to be fine too. She's been given her breakfast, lunch and dinner today (the same as always) and all she's eaten is two biscuits, a few bites of a brioche roll, a few crisps and a few sweets. Everything else has been refused completely. The food is in front of her but she's just whiny and almost panicky. I'm still very much on a learning journey with her autism so I'm really at a loss of what I can do, or to help her, etc. If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it massively.

Have a look at ARFID. If you haven’t already spoken to the GP &/or HV (and paed/CAMHS if DD is under either) do that. In some areas, you can self refer to dietetics. In the meantime, keep serving safe foods. And if DD will take a multivitamin you could try that. Has DD ever had a sensory OT assessment?

Funnily enough, I had seen a post of here about AFRID a few days before she stopped eating. She's on the waiting list for the paediatrician. No health visitor now as she's 4, it's just the school nurse I believe. Think this is going to be a visit to the GP tomorrow (if I'm lucky) or Monday. Thankfully she does take a gummy vitamin and has done up until this morning so hoping she continues with that. She's not had a sensory OT assessment no - could you give me some more info on that please?

Ah, for some reason I wrongly assumed 4y/o in nursery rather than school age, sorry. You could contact the school nursing service.

Some people with ASD have sensory processing differences. For some, this can affect eating, e.g. the texture of food. A sensory OT assessment can look at any potential sensory needs. Unfortunately, in many ICBs, sensory OT isn’t commissioned on the NHS anymore. Does DD have an EHCP?