Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

I am having serious food issues with Ava. It has been several months, and it is only getting worse.

She is 3 1/2 and can go days without eating..anything. When she was an infants, she did great with formula. As a toddler, she also did great with baby food and some table food. When she turned 2, I started to see that she was a very picky eater. She had a select few foods that she would eat. I thought that she would outgrow it. I never really forced the issue, but I kept trying and continued to put new foods out.

Yesterday, all I could get her to eat was 3 spoons of yogurt...that's it. Today, half an eggo and half a cup of milk.

I don't keep much junk food in the house, and all she drinks is milk or water, so she is not overdoing it with that. I have mentioned this to my Ped several times. I also took her to a nutritionist and paid $150 out of pocket because it was not covered by insurance. None of the prefessionals have taken me seriously, because she is not super-skinny and doesn't appear malnourished. They say "well, she looks healthy, she is getting her nutrition from somewhere...."

So I found a Developmental Pediatrican and made an appointment- several months ago. It is at the end of this month. I brought her back to her regular Ped yesterday, and he is now taking me seriously- she has not gained an ounce in 6 months.

She will not eat beef, chicken, bread, fruit and most other things. She won't even eat kid food like pizza or french fries. When we do get her to eat, it's like we are giving her poison- she gags.

She never says she is hungry or even asks to eat. She doesn't only do this at home, she doesn't eat at school either, or when she is with other family or friends.

Please help...Could it be a sensory issue? What can I do

Message edited 2/6/2008 10:03:03 PM.

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

I'm not a mommy, I just like to lurk here and see all your pretty babies for someday when I have my own. I am a dietitian though.

I would reccomend a book- its called "how to get your kid to eat, but not too much" and its by ellen satter. She also has a website. Her whole technique is to give control back to your child, so I can imagine it can be hard to implement. Its based on the idea that if she will eventually eat and not to force it. Not to offer a whole variety of foods unendingly, because that can be overwhelming for a child, but say this is lunch, eat it or don;t, but no snacks until dinner. I dont know if it would work for you, but it cant hurt to take a look.

Good luck! I'm sure she'll eat eventually.

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

Good luck maybe the pediatrician can get you a prescription for speech pathologist. I know my nephew's speech pathologist works on eating with him too. He gets it through ei.

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

when my 11yr old DD was 2 until around 6 she was a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE eater
she was underweight and she just hated food the dr asked me what she liked so I said broccolli mayonaise bread and that was really it so he told me to give her mayonaise sandwiches so that is what I did for like 2 years that kid lived on mayo sandwiches
she eventually started to try new things
I would say oh Eddie(her favorite cousin) loves to eat grilled cheese it is his favorite so then she would say oh me too and then she would eat it

good luck its a long road

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

My daughter received feeding help from a speech therapist. You have FM!

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

Does she eat mashed potatoes or scrambled eggs? Kids tend to like them. Maybe check her teeth. Does she have sensitive teeth? Just a thought

Re: Any therapists or teachers who can help me??

FM