Toddler and eating issues

Still dealing with Mason's eating issues. He's seeing an OT and Speech Therapist thru EI. Hopefully something will help. He's bright and has a great attention span, but just doesn't seem to enjoy food or change of food. He even makes a face with some foods he knows he likes. It's like he fights wanting to like it.
Anyone have any advise? I'm doing everyhing I can, but maybe he's just not a lover of food. Who doesnt like sweets?! I guess my boy. He will have some ice-cream sometimes. The OT brought jello and snacks and he refused it.
I guess it's a work in progress.

Re: Toddler and eating issues

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Re: Toddler and eating issues

I have a very picky eater also. He will be two next month. His "menu" is maybe 10 things. He makes faces at almost everything. He won't eat ice cream and it makes me nuts! I've stopped stressing about it and Now just go with it. I figure he will eat when he's hungry and hopefully he will outgrow this. I wish I had better advice for you, but nothing has worked for us.

Re: Toddler and eating issues

Thanks for responding. I hope he grows out of it

Re: Toddler and eating issues

Em went through this phase when she was just about 9 months to about 1.5 years old. it stunk, i felt very helpless, but it got WAY better.

now - she'll eat almost anything. i'm so proud of how far she's come...

i don't have any new advice for you - but i just wanted to let you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Re: Toddler and eating issues

My son does not like sweets either. He loves to say cupcake, cookie and ice cream, but he wont even dare taste it. He'll run around the house holding a cookie in both hands, but wont eat it.

Last weeked he climbed up on my kitchen table to ge out a donut. We were super shocked. But all he wanted was to look at the colored sprinkles! He wouldn't even taste it.

But give him salty foods, and he's all over them. Cheese doodles, chips, potato sticks, Doritos. We limit these with him, but at least we know he has some vices.

I know you are struggling with your son. But he will get there eventually. It will just take some time with the EI services he is receiving. And he isn't the only one who doesn't like sweets...my DS doesn't either.

Re: Toddler and eating issues

jACK has been on a hunger strike the past few days. will eat some for bkfast, but lunch and dinner he's not touching. and its stuff he always eats.

last nite he barely touched dinner. i gave him his milk before bed. 4:30 this morning he wakes up hungry. im going to lose my mind soon if he keeps this up.

I dont force feed. if he doesnt eat, waits for the next meal.

I feel your pain...

Re: Toddler and eating issues

Emerson is still a terrible eater. She will be 19m next week and some days she wont even put a morsel of food in her mouth. Last night she didn't even look at dinner, let alone touch it.
She only gained 3oz between her 15m and 18m appts. ped wasn't too concerned cause she is SO active that she thinks she's just burning off more calories, but shes really not eating much at all! I try to give her things I know she likes but sometimes that doesn't even work

Re: Toddler and eating issues

Hi Erica,

(I just typed this HUGE response to you and my computer was messed up and I lost it all....take 2! Phew! Venting! I hope I don't forget anything this time).

How old is your son? I am a speech therapist who specializes in feeding difficulties and the "picky" eater.

I think it's important to consider the number of foods that your child eats...how many does he eat?

Also, consider the methodology/theories behind the ways in which the speech therapist who is working on feeding with your son is utilizing. Ask questions! She might be a GREAT speech therapist, but really consider if she's a great speech therapist for feeding. See if she would mind sitting with you to create a feeding plan. Also, when feeding therapy occurs, is your son hungry? Did he eat recently or have a lot of milk or juice? Yes, this can seem like a no-brainer but people's lives are BUSY and real-life happens and sometimes we might not think about this aspect.

It is important to examine the KINDS of foods (i.e., orange, dry/crunchy, etc.) your son eats. Also, what could be the potential reasons for your son being a picky eater? There are many reasons for children consuming a restrictive diet (i.e., intubated because of being a preemie, acid reflux, delayed chewing pattern, beginning solids late-often because of the first 2 reasons/negative oral experience, sensory integration disorder, etc.). Sometimes, it's difficult to know or rule out any of the possible examples. It's a start to try, though. I know the you want him to eat more, but it's really important to consider the reasons why because that MAY help with a treatment plan.

Does your child overstuff his mouth or appear to have difficulty actually chewing? Sometimes children avoid foods they fear they can't manage in their mouth due to motoric reasons. Also consider, we eat soup very differently from mashed potatoes vs. steak, etc...We learn to manage different foods differently...chewing it complex and can be scary.

Baby steps in a systematic way help to improve child's food repertoire STEADILY. Children require FREQUENT presentations of foods...without the pressure of having to eat a food (i.e., tolerating it on the plate, smelling it, touching/playing with it). However, all children are different. I encourage you to continue to present foods in front of your children (3 small portions of food on a plate at a time during a meal).

Personally, I utilize the SOS Feeding Treatment Approach which helps I remember that food is FUN...it is easy to get stressed out when worrying about your child's nutrition. It's a non-stressful approach. You can read more about it here.
http://www.thetherapyplace.net/feeding/index.htm

If you have ANY questions...please feel free to respond. I know you posted this one month ago, but I wanted to reply anyway. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected], as well.

Kristi L.
MA, CCC-SLP