So, I don't know where to start.
When My little boy was 6months old we started the weaning process. At first I went straight for Jar food, pouches, breakfast and yogurts. My son didn't take well to being spoon fed and would spit out anything that went into his mouth. He started to eat yogurts from spoon feed eventually. Fast forward doing this for 3months with little progress and my little boy now being 9months old and starting nursery I took some advice from the children's centre staff. I was advised to start Baby led weaning.
Little man took better to this and started putting food to his mouth to eat however was still not eating massive amounts and only certain parts of meals. I kept getting told that food for under 1s is just for fun and not to stress out. (I cried so much during this process as I felt like he wasn't eating much at all)
So fast forward to him turning 2.. and we was still having troubles getting him to try different foods. He would eat pizza, any form of potatoes, rice, macaroni, breads and fruits. He would also eat biscuits and crisps.
At nursery he was only able to have cooked meals on site, he would sit and refuse to eat, only eating the fruit at snack times. He would come home so hungry.
He would still refuse any meats and unfamiliar foods and would demand his safe foods.
We tried modeling meal times and giving him the same meals as us, we tried adding a safe food to a dish so he could eat something but also be exposed to other foods.
Fast forward to 4 years old.. at a new nursery and he can have packed lunch, so he eats his typical sandwich (has to be cheese spread) and crisps and fruits. When he comes home he is refusing our dinners even more!! He is literally living off pizza, macaroni and potatoes!
We don't watch tele while eating, he will make every excuse to get down from the table.
We encourage him to try and when we do, he attemps to put food in his mouth but then is gagging when it hits his mouth.
I have spoken to many people about this and I'm being told he is just being fussy. I feel like the gagging just isn't normal. He won't eat any other yogurt apart from cheap ones with clear pot and won't eat any other pizza apart from cheap tesco ones.
I feel my son has some additional needs but when I share this with nursery they say they don't see the same things I do.
Basically I'm asking.. what do I do! Who do I turn to? Am I being dramatic if I take him to the GP about this? Dinner times are causing us so much distress.
Sorry for the long winded explanation and thank you to anyone who has made it to this point of my message. HELP IS NEEDED!!
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Weaning
4 year old eating problems
MummaEllie · 29/06/2023 21:58
Pashazade · 29/06/2023 22:22
This sounds like something is going on to me. He could well be on the spectrum. I'd definitely see the GP and try for a referral. In the meantime please don't panic, they can eat very restricted diets and still be healthy.
For now I would let him eat what he is comfortable with.
The gagging is what's making me feel there is more to this he's potentially got sensory issues.
mynameiscalypso · 29/06/2023 22:25
I don't know about additional needs but I have a 4 year old who is very similar (in fact, probably eats even less variety at the moment). Yesterday he had his breakfast but then refused all food at nursery (lunch/snacks) and would only eat a yoghurt for dinner. It's not great, obviously, and I rely on the fact that he'll drink smoothies to get any nutrients in him but I'm just trying to ride it out really. I don't suspect any kind of additional needs with him though so I wonder if that makes it easier for me to rationalise away than if you have other suspicions if you know what I mean? In any event, I thought I'd give you some sympathy because my DS seems to exist on bread, pizza and plain pasta.
ManchNic · 29/06/2023 22:36
Hi, I am a speech and language therapist that specialises in feeding difficulties. This does sound more than typical fussy eating and I would see your GP and request a referral to your local speech and language therapy Dysphagia Service, or alternatively see a private dysphagia therapist (look up ASLTIP).
Not all NHS therapists will take on aversive/sensory related feeding issues but it sounds like this might be his issue. How is he about things like teeth brushing/getting messy/dirty/different textures etc?
Beamur · 29/06/2023 22:39
I'm no expert (beyond parenting 2 children with varying degrees of restricted eating) but it sounds very sensory to me. Whether it's ND or NT I don't know - but the reassurance in routine and repetitive stuff is both very normal in kids who are NT and ND.
Kids who eat a narrow diet are extremely risk averse with food. I found with DD that she was more likely to try something very similar to something she likes already - dry and crunchy being her preferred food texture. She also dislikes certain textures together. For example she would never eat pizza as it has too many textures together! Things which reliably always taste the same are safer too - like crisps.
Most kids do grow out of this but it can take years. A supplement can help assuage your anxiety and you can get calorie rich drinks that can be taken too.
Try not to listen to other people too much - most people have no idea what a truly food avoidant child is like.
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 29/06/2023 22:44
Some excellent advise from ManchNic.
Another vote here for reading up on ARFID. My DD was very similar at that age and she's now on the Pathway.
As well as the referral suggested above I'd get in touch with the HV. Tell her your concerns and ask her to score an Ages & Stages for you and to have a look at him.
If he has glue ear did you know that you can join NDCS for supper and it's free?
I'd also have a look at the Birmingham Food Refusal Service.
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 29/06/2023 22:54
It does sound sensory, I think in this case I would allow as much of the foods as he likes and totally remove the stress around food, no pressure on him to eat or not.
Also allow for distractions when he's eating so let him watch telly or an iPad.
I know it sounds like the opposite of what you'd normally do but the more you make it a battle the worse it will get imo.
I was your Ds and this is what helped me.
Girliefriendlikespuppies · 29/06/2023 22:54
It does sound sensory, I think in this case I would allow as much of the foods as he likes and totally remove the stress around food, no pressure on him to eat or not.
Also allow for distractions when he's eating so let him watch telly or an iPad.
I know it sounds like the opposite of what you'd normally do but the more you make it a battle the worse it will get imo.
I was your Ds and this is what helped me.
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