Re: feeding problems

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Jordan's (8yrs.) mainstay is: rasin bread, with apple butter,

lowfat peanut butter, flaxseed, and sliced grapes. He eats this for

lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, he will eat dry ceral, yogaurt, and

occassionaly fresh fruit. Once in awhile he will eat grilled cheese,

or pizza. He likes french fries, chips, popcorn and granola bars.

That is about it. He will not try anything new. He dosn't seem to

have a texture problem, just unwillingness to try new things.

He only drinks out of one straw-type cup, made by Rubbermaid. He is

still fairly small, and fits in a booster seat with a seat belt. If

not, he would be up after 1 minute. Terri

[Guest guest]

A few things we try with a student in our classroom utilizes foods for

speech therapy, just something that someone may find new and interesting to

try at home.

Using a very small hand held vibrator to massage around the lips and

concentrate on the upper lip area while encouraging them to push against the

vibrator with thier lip. this helps the lip develop muscle.

another thing we do is to use a sucker or lollipop and after we give him a

taste, he has to stick his tongue out to reach it to taste it. His tongue

needs that exercise, and then we are teaching him to reach to the sides

with his tongue by holding the sucker to one side or the other and while

holding his other cheeck so he cant turn his head, we want him to reach his

tongue over. then we will do the same thing reaching his tongue up.. making

him stick his tongue up and out. also are trying to hold the sucker with

the vibrator in one hand so the sucker actually vibrates inside his mouth.

he doesnt like that though.

Another thing is putting peanut butter on a tongue depressor and dabbing a

dot of peanut butter on his lower lipand then using your hand to help hold

up his upper lip and encourage them to use thier teeth to get the peanut

butter off thier lower lip, as this developes you can have them practice

saying V words and F words, so they can learn those sounds.

just some thoughts.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/27/2003 12:19:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

tigger30@... writes:

> I am the mother of a DS child who will be 4 y/o in May. My son is

> still not eating well. He will only eat tomato based foods.

> NOTHING ELSE! He still doesn't drink out of a cup yet and still

> will not hold his own bottle.

,

Welcome to the list. There's a very bright lady on another list (Donna, for

everyone who knows her) who learned to hide tons of vegetables and meat in

tomato sauce to serve her daughter over spaghetti. Will that work for you?

If you need inspiration I'll ask her to email you. My son is 5 and also has

a limited repetoire of food.

As for the bottle/cup thing, you're a very patient mom. Liam took himself

off the bottle at about 18 months, way before I was ready. (I threw out the

bottles recently, because I wasn't ready to give them up until then -- how

nuts is that?) But, I would have started getting him off when he was two. I

think a feeding specialist is a good idea.

Kathy, Liam's mom( 5)

[Guest guest]

on 4/27/03 12:18 PM, tylereric1999 at tigger30@... wrote:

I am the mother of a DS child who will be 4 y/o in May. My son is

still not eating well. He will only eat tomato based foods.

NOTHING ELSE! He still doesn't drink out of a cup yet and still

will not hold his own bottle. He is VERY stubborn! Can someone

help me!

Hi!

Where do you all live? Each of the major state universities have a " Center

for Excellence in Disabilities " and they all have feeding clinics. Also,

most major hospitals have feeding clinics. Also, any of the Down Syndrome

clinics should have access to a feeding clinic.

How's your son with regards to being social and favorite activities?

Take Care,

Kent

Kent Moreno

Rt 1 Box 128-X

Burlington, WV 26710

knm@...

[Guest guest]

I had a similar problem with my youngest son Tom. He refused to nurse

all of a sudden after nursing for six months. Turned out he had

developed an allergy to my milk. Hurt my feelings. His pediatrician

put him on soybean formula and he was fine. After two years he outgrew

the allergy and has been eating anything that doesn't eat him first

since. He's now 37 years old.

granny

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 8:29 AM, kmath422 <karinmatheson13579@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

> My son, (DS), is 15 months old, and we're having major feeding

> problems. Around 9 months, we attempted to start table foods (upon the

> advice of the pediatrician). Up until that point, he'd had no problem

> eating purees/baby food. He willingly accepted the table food and

> chewed it up but never could swallow it (there were a few things he was

> able to eat successfully), so I'd eventually just take it out of his

> mouth. For the past month, he has refused almost EVERY food, solid or

> pureed, even the foods he was previously able to eat. He takes a

> spoonful or cube of food into his mouth, then spits it out immediately.

> I have no idea what to do... he won't eat anything other than maybe a

> few bites of baby food at each meal, a bite of banana or mandarin

> orange or cheerio now & then. I put him back on formula last week

> cause I was worried about his nutrition (going to the ped. tomorrow, so

> will get his weight checked then). Fortunately he hasn't given me any

> problem with drinking his milk/formula.

>

> The OT has given me suggestions such as adding spices, sauces,

> different textures, etc. I've tried all these things & he spits

> everything out.

>

> Has anyone experienced this refusal to eat? Any help would be greatly

> appreciated!! I'm at the point of desperation, plus I'm 6 months preg.

> and not dealing with things very well at the moment. Please help!!

>

> Thanks!

> Karin

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have the same problem with my 5 year old son. The things that kind of worked

for me was to let him make his own food, he would eat it if he made it himself.

He likes plum sauce so whatever he can dip in it he does and if those don't work

I put 2 things in front of him, one that he thinks is really gross and one he

thinks isn't too bad, he will eat one of them eventually. It is a behavioural

issue its all about control so we have to try and trick them.lol

>

>

> From: jimandjeanine <jimandjeanine@...>

> Subject: ( ) feeding problems

>

> Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 5:51 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> My son is a very " selective " eater. We have been taking him to a feeding

clinic at a local pediatric rehab center to no avail. I don't want to " quit " too

early, but it has been a few months now and there has not even been 1 food added

to his repertoire. The therapist does not think it is sensory although he does

have sensory issues. She thinks this is all behavioral.

>

> I am wondering how some of you have conquered or just dealt with these issues?

He is now 6, and I am really not sure how to help him. Is it better to just pick

my battles and let him have this one? We have been doing various therapies since

before his 2nd birthday. We have made a ton of progress in all areas except for

this one.

>

> I really don't know how to approach this. I would really appreciate any

information/ advice.

>

> Thanks!

> Jeanine

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the tips. Tonight, I made fish, broccoli, and potatoes. He will not

eat any of those foods. I talked to him about returning to the feeding clinic

b/c I know that he hates it. I told him that we can stop going to the clinic

but then we need to start seriously working at home every day. I decided to try

the " one bite " method as one of the other parents mentioned. I let him pick

between the 3 foods. He did chew and swallow one piece of the fish. He didn't

gag, and he said it wasn't awful but he didn't want anymore. Clearly, that was

progress. When I was first telling him about the new " plan " , I could see the

anxiety and he was getting ready to cry. Once we talked some more, he was

willing to at least try! I am excited. Maybe the feeding clinic has at least

made him more accepting of suggestions. We will have to see what happens

tomorrow. His mood changes frequently but I am happy for now! I am doing the

same thing with this younger brother so that he doesn't feel singled out.

My son mainly eats carbs. He loves pasta, bread, various cereals (brand

specific though), apples, Kraft cheese singles, and Kraft mac and cheese. He

also likes carrots, corn, and peas. Occasionally, he will eat chicken nuggets

and Ham. It's hardly the greatest diet, but he is growing well. I do

give him a multi-vitamin and we also give him omega-3 fish oil in addition to

his fluoride.

I do NOT think it is a willful choice on the part of my son. I think he

legitimately has a problem which is why we took him to the feeding clinic for

help. Something about trying new foods causes him great anxiety, but at the

same time, I can honestly say that he had a problem with table food from the

time that we transitioned him from baby food when he was a baby. Our former ped

said it would get better with time. In the meantime we moved, and then by age

3, we received the PDD diagnosis. Being that he is growing and he is totally

proportional, none of the physicians are overly concerned.

I understand that the texture of meat may bother him. I would just like him to

eat some more fruits and veggies. The story about the grapes made me chuckle

b.c that is my son! He must visually inspect everything and occasionally, he

will also smell the food. He can distinguish between brands that way.

It is good to know that I am not alone, and at least there is hope. We will

just stay consistent and positive. I try very hard not to make negative

comments about what he prefers. We do not battle at the dinner table. I

realized a long time ago that doing that would get us nowhere.

I feel like I frequently have to explain to others, like family members, that he

does not choose to behave the way he does. His perception of the world is

different. I am trying to embrace the differences and see the world from his

perspective.

Thanks again for the advice!

[Guest guest]

Glad the "one-bite" rule worked! Something else I forgot to mention is I'd normally make a meal out of foods he liked but then just have a small serving of the food he didn't like on his plate for the "one-bite" rule. I think it helped with his anxiety (Dylan has a lot of it) about trying the new food because proportionally, there was a lot more food on his plate that he liked than he didn't like. Sometimes I'd even put less of the things he liked along w/ the "one-bite" food and then let him know he could have more of the others after he had his "one-bite'.

I can't tell you how many times he ate raw carrots and cantaloupe with his lunch and dinner! Lots! I used to joke that if we could see into his veins, his blood would be orange! But when those were the only fruit and vegetable that he'd eat, that's what I served him. But I'd also throw a little of a new veggie or fruit on his plate at every dinnertime (never did this at breakfast during the week, maybe the weekends, but dinner was usually the only meal I'd introduce a new food.)

Funny enough, but sometimes now he'll get "sick" of having the same thing over and over again. It takes awhile, but he'll make comments about "do we have to eat ____ again?" Now that to me says PROGRESS! Because repetition, keeping things the same, and living in his comfort zone are important to him. But as he gets older, he's slowly growing out of that, to some degree.

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: jimandjeanine <jimandjeanine@...> Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 7:44:55 PMSubject: Re: ( ) feeding problems

Thanks for the tips. Tonight, I made fish, broccoli, and potatoes. He will not eat any of those foods. I talked to him about returning to the feeding clinic b/c I know that he hates it. I told him that we can stop going to the clinic but then we need to start seriously working at home every day. I decided to try the "one bite" method as one of the other parents mentioned. I let him pick between the 3 foods. He did chew and swallow one piece of the fish. He didn't gag, and he said it wasn't awful but he didn't want anymore. Clearly, that was progress. When I was first telling him about the new "plan", I could see the anxiety and he was getting ready to cry. Once we talked some more, he was willing to at least try! I am excited. Maybe the feeding clinic has at least made him more accepting of suggestions. We will have to see what happens tomorrow. His mood changes frequently but I am happy for now! I am doing the same thing with this younger brother so

that he doesn't feel singled out. My son mainly eats carbs. He loves pasta, bread, various cereals (brand specific though), apples, Kraft cheese singles, and Kraft mac and cheese. He also likes carrots, corn, and peas. Occasionally, he will eat chicken nuggets and Ham. It's hardly the greatest diet, but he is growing well. I do give him a multi-vitamin and we also give him omega-3 fish oil in addition to his fluoride. I do NOT think it is a willful choice on the part of my son. I think he legitimately has a problem which is why we took him to the feeding clinic for help. Something about trying new foods causes him great anxiety, but at the same time, I can honestly say that he had a problem with table food from the time that we transitioned him from baby food when he was a baby. Our former ped said it would get better with time. In the meantime we moved, and then by age 3, we received the PDD diagnosis. Being that he is growing

and he is totally proportional, none of the physicians are overly concerned. I understand that the texture of meat may bother him. I would just like him to eat some more fruits and veggies. The story about the grapes made me chuckle b.c that is my son! He must visually inspect everything and occasionally, he will also smell the food. He can distinguish between brands that way. It is good to know that I am not alone, and at least there is hope. We will just stay consistent and positive. I try very hard not to make negative comments about what he prefers. We do not battle at the dinner table. I realized a long time ago that doing that would get us nowhere. I feel like I frequently have to explain to others, like family members, that he does not choose to behave the way he does. His perception of the world is different. I am trying to embrace the differences and see the world from his perspective. Thanks again for the

advice!

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I did give him foods that he likes as well.

I am going to make a star chart too. He is very visual so I think once he

realizes how many new food he has actually taken a bite of (once we are further

along), he will be proud.

Thanks again.

[Guest guest]

On Nov 19, 4:45pm, " Roxanna " wrote:

}

} My 12 yo ds is the same way. I vote for the " try one new thing " method. I=

} can get my ds to take the teeniest smidge of food. And then he'll say, " Y=

} es, I like it " and " No, I don't want any more of it. " lol. Mine will eat =

} no fruits, no veggies and no meat.=20=20

Sigh, Bam is exactly the same way! He'll say he likes it but refuse

to try any more.

He will eat plain burger and chicken nuggets, though with some whining.

No vegetables. We put dried fruit in his lunch, but I honestly don't

know if he actually eats it or throws it away.

Willa

[Guest guest]

Willa,

We start with the "try one bite" of any new sort of food for 1-3 meals with that food. (our son is now 5, we've been doing this since age 3) Then we do the "eat as many bites as you are old". Then we move to a small portion. We do a small dessert every night and for us that's enough to motivate our guy to try to eat new things. I don't really have a formula on how many times we do each of these steps. We just play it by ear and try to be sensitive to what he can handle. My desire is to stretch his ability to handle taste/texture within his capacities. If it's a texture issues, we will puree soups/sauces at first and have him eat one bite not pureed. Our son has stopped gagging on several textures by using this incrimental method. He would still prefer everything pureed or liquid, but he can now eat a lot more than he used to be able to in terms of taste and texture. I can't guarentee it'll work for everyone but it's really helped us! I consider lunch at school a wash - we do what's easy for him PB & J (low sugar, natural PB, wheat bread), applesauce, and rice milk. I personally wouldn't try new tastes/textures at school because we have gagging/choking issues. Hope that helps!

www.cuddlebugkids.etsy.com

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[Guest guest]

I wish we were allowed to bring peanut butter! My son's school is peanut free.

My life would be so much easier! Dealing with his issues is not hard at

breakfast b/c he eats waffles, pancakes, and cereal. Lunch is a problem b/c he

eats at school and he won't eat most

" lunch time " foods. For dinner, he generally wants pasta of some sort. I try

to also have a veggie that he will eat like carrots.

One of the other moms mentioned that her son will try something, say he likes

it, but then he won't eat it again. That is my son!! The more I read on here,

the more convinced I am that my son is an Aspie. Right now, his diagnosis is

PDD-NOS, but the dev ped said he seems more Asperger's like now.

Anyway, thanks for the assistance!

Jeanine

[Guest guest]

I use carnation instant breakfast for the vitamins. I also chop up carrots and celery and use the toll house cookie dough and mix in veggies and he doesn't really notice. It works in brownies as well. Applesauce in cakes and brownies instead of oil.I even put pieces of ham in cookies just really small so they don't notice or taste it. I sneak it in that way it really seemed to work. I know they talk about sweets being bad but if its the only thing they will eat I say so what just brush teeth more and give the carnation instant breakfast in the morning. I think they have a carnation plus and that has more calories in it. I started with this and now my son is just at weight. Still on the slim side but it will always be work. I did try those drinks you buy at CVS or Walgreens those are so gross and of course taste like vitamins. I still have mine drink the

carnation instead of nestle quick in his milk. He now eats fish sticks and small chicken bites only after lots of work with the meat in the cookies. I hope this helps.Ada Tickle

From: jimandjeanine <jimandjeanine>Subject: ( ) feeding problems Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009, 5:51 PM

My son is a very "selective" eater. We have been taking him to a feeding clinic at a local pediatric rehab center to no avail. I don't want to "quit" too early, but it has been a few months now and there has not even been 1 food added to his repertoire. The therapist does not think it is sensory although he does have sensory issues. She thinks this is all behavioral. I am wondering how some of you have conquered or just dealt with these issues? He is now 6, and I am really not sure how to help him. Is it better to just pick my battles and let him have this one? We have been doing various therapies since before his 2nd birthday. We have made a ton of progress in all areas except for this one. I really don't know how to approach this. I would really appreciate any information/ advice.Thanks!Jeanine