Weaning and oral aversion

[bloodywhitecat]

I have a six month old with oral aversion, we were advised to start weaning early by the paediatrician but we are getting nowhere. Before we started weaning we were getting somewhere with getting a finger tip in his mouth but now that has become an issue again too. Does anyone have any tips? I usually give him the spoon with dipped into something like banana and for a while that seemed to work but now he just waves it about like a flag.

[dementedpixie]

Have you tried any finger foods?

[bloodywhitecat]

Yes, tried banana, carrot, avocado and a few other bits without success.

[Wherethereshope]

What does oral aversion mean? Doesn't like/ can't tolerate things in his mouth?

[bloodywhitecat]

@Wherethereshope

What does oral aversion mean? Doesn't like/ can't tolerate things in his mouth?

Yes, he clamps down and turns his head away or back arches and becomes distressed around food/spoons/etc. I was able to clean his gums with a finger brush but he has stopped tolerating that too.

[Wherethereshope]

Sounds really tricky. I had a quick Google search too.. how does he get on with milk feeds?

[SleepingStandingUp]

My advice as the Mom of a baby who refuse bottles from 4 months and was extremely hard to wean from the ages of 10 months + is GENTLY.

Do not force, push, rush, or trick.

I did it all. I'm not judging. But it doesn't work.

Does baby take a dummy? Will they? We used to let him have his dummy as normal but also dip it in stuff so he knew it was a same medium iyswim.

Just try little and often. If they want to sneak their hands on it and wear it, let them. Encourage them.

Lots of messy play if they tolerate it.

Ignore anyone who tells you that if baby is hungry he'll eat it of you push harder they'll eat. They're ignorant it idiots

[bloodywhitecat]

@SleepingStandingUp

My advice as the Mom of a baby who refuse bottles from 4 months and was extremely hard to wean from the ages of 10 months + is GENTLY.

Do not force, push, rush, or trick.

I did it all. I'm not judging. But it doesn't work.

Does baby take a dummy? Will they? We used to let him have his dummy as normal but also dip it in stuff so he knew it was a same medium iyswim.

Just try little and often. If they want to sneak their hands on it and wear it, let them. Encourage them.

Lots of messy play if they tolerate it.

Ignore anyone who tells you that if baby is hungry he'll eat it of you push harder they'll eat. They're ignorant it idiots

Wise advice, thank you, I haven't pushed it at all and won't because I have seen what can happen if you do (I have worked with older children with additional needs who have had oral/food aversions and want to avoid this with him). No dummy, sucks his thumb. OK with milk feeds but took a while for us to get there. There is one toy in particular he likes to chew but I don't know whether or not to dip it in food. A friend has suggested trying one of those net things that you can get, we know he likes banana as we had some success with it but that has tailed off too. He was on medication via an oral syringe and I think that is where the aversion stems from as the medicine has a pretty nasty taste as it was tablet form that was supposed to be swallowed whole but we had to crush it and give it diluted in a tiny amount of water.

[SleepingStandingUp]

Reflux meds by any chance?

Could you put him in his high chair with the favourite chewable toy and just lots of squashy foods and bits that he can play with? so inevitably chew toy will get some on him and might end up in his mouth?

What's he like with touching stuff?

DS was on tube feeds which helped when he went total no on bottles and was ok with mess and touching food until he was 10 months and had lots of medical interventions but the having it there to make a mess in and hopefully taste it was oft suggested and seems sensible if baby won't freak

Obv keep an eye on weight and hydration, if you think he's getting dehydrated then its a hospital job.

[proworrier]

My advice- ask for a referral to a paediatric speech and language therapist who specialises in eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. Any health professional can refer you or you can probably self refer. Oral aversion is not easy to overcome but pp is absolutely correct- no pushing/ forcing/ rushing etc. They will only progress on their terms when they're ready. A specialist SLT will do a thorough case history assessment and provide advice for you to treat at home as change will happen little by little by you implementing strategies at home. Best of luck.

[Pinkflipflop85]

Second the advice to get referred to the Salt team.

Our son was given special toys and games/activities to play with him to even get him to entertain the idea of putting anything in his mouth.

[SleepingStandingUp]

God yes Def SLT referral sorry, I assumed you'd have one

[Hazzyyy]

@bloodywhitecat hi I was wondering how you got on and if you have an advice?

Have a 6 month old with a feeding and oral aversion and been recommended to wean but getting nowhere

Thanks