Food Control Issues- What do you do?

I would like to state that my DS is nearly 21 months old and has always been a GREAT eater. That is up until about two weeks ago. It started with him being a little picky and has snowballed into full on refusal.

today is a perfect example:
Breakfast - I made him an egg omlete. I brought his dish out and called him to the table. He came running. The minute he sat on the chair and saw eggs, he screamed and swiped the dish (and eggs) on the floor. He then cryed and screamed for five minutes while I ignored him, picked up his food and threw it in the garbage. After his tantrum he carried on as if nothing happened (and didnt eat).

An hour later I made a cinn raisin bagel flat with cream cheese and put it on the table. He saw the dish and came running. Saw the food and screamed (I was on guard and grabbed the dish before he could throw it ont he floor). I took him off the chair and told him no scream. He cried to be picked up. I did and he ate half the bagel on my lap and then took a nap.

When he woke up I made him chicken nuggets for lunch. He refused to eat them. Again screamed and left the table without eating. An hour or so later he signed "more" and went to the kitchen (DS is speech delayed) indicating that he was hungry. I tried to encourage him to eat the friggin nuggets. Another tantrum. I had just bought an organic pouch of some sort of veggie purree...put it in a bowl and spoon fed him. After three bites he screamed but after two more attempts he finished the bowl.

Dinner we has BBQ ribs, corn on the cob and coleslaw. He refused the ribs, at the whole piece of corn right off the cob and threw the coleslaw on the floor.
So a bagel thin, a veggie puree and corn all day. I refused to give him a snack and quite honestly, he didnt really ask for one. How much longer do I have ot put up with this? If he was always a bad eater I guess I would be used to this by now but he's always been a great eater and I dont know how to deal. Any advice?

ETS: This has been going on for two weeks now (gradually getting worse). He is getting his bottom 2 yr molars in though...maybe it is teething and here I am thinking he's spiting me

Message edited 7/12/2011 9:24:02 PM.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

Is he feeling ok? Sometimes I find that when DS is not eating as much it's because he doesn't feel good or (TMI alert) he is constipated and needs to use the bathroom. Hopefully this passes quickly for you!

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

teeth?

Lame excuse, but I'm now conditioned to blame everything on teething, anything that's ever been wrong or off with DS has always ended with teeth.

DS preferred puree to real food the entire time he was working on his 1 year molars.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

Usually when Liam does this he gets sick. (a sore throat or something). I hope that's not the case

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

As I was reading - it definitely sounds like he is coming down with something. I would take him to the ped - if his ears hurt, he won't feel like eating.

And don't think no fever equals nothing wrong. DS has had a couple of double ear infections and no other symptoms at all.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

DS has been like that for 9 months. Started when he was cutting his molars.. It would get better for a while and then he would go off again. For 2 months now, he has been on a food strike. He will eat yogurt and pancakes. And the occasion cookie and cracker. He is now 20 months and he just cut all 4 of his one year molars last month. He is getting a little better with eating. Will now try foods that he once use to eat all the time.. He has texture issues, so I know some of his problems are from that, but I think the brunt of it is from his teething! He will eat when he is hungry.. DS did it tonight. He ate 1 3/4 waffles for dinner. Hasn't eaten that much food in one sitting in over 2 months.. Try not to worry about it and just let him be..

Message edited 7/12/2011 11:04:45 PM.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

what about giving him a choice? even a choice w/o a choice. If he HATES "waffles". Offer him eggs or waffles.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

My DS went through this at 2yo. I spoke to his ped about it. She said our job is to provide food. thats it.

If he wont eat it, dont fight it because you will lose. Its one of the few things they really CAN control.

However, if it were me, there would be time outs for throwing the food on the floor. IF he doenst want it thats one thing he doesnt have to eat it. but throwing it like that is unacceptable.

ETA: also try giving choices so your DC still feels a sense of control. Before cooking say, would you like eggs or pancakes.

PS I never fought my DS to eat. And the phase did subside. TOok a month or 2 but then it was back to normal.

Message edited 7/13/2011 9:14:54 AM.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

it's most likely the teething. that is really the only time he refuses things that I know he likes.

but I don't do choices in my house. not when I've seen you eat this meal 100 times before. NOPE.

as for throwing the plates on the floor, he has done it a few times and I get him out of the chair and make him help me clean it up.

he gets a stern talking to...aka YELLED at and the death stare.

but he really only acts like this when he's teething or tired.

last night at the table, he threw his food at my MIL. once he was told. twice, plate taken away. NO MAS. then he was in the bath. I told him 3 times not to throw the water over the side onto the floor. he did it a fourth time. BATH ENDED IMMEDIATELY.

cry cry all you want. *I* am the boss.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

Posted by sfp0701

Usually when Liam does this he gets sick. (a sore throat or something). I hope that's not the case

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

Does he normally like these foods? Sometimes DD has eaten a food before and then decides that she doesnt like it. I agree about the choices - not that you should run a restaurant, but if he doesn't want eggs, how about some cereal? Then if he doesn't want to eat, I would let him be.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

I have a terrible, horrible eater with major control issues but it sounds like something is bothering him. I agree with the PPs that say maybe molars? My DD who really has terrible issues just laughs at me and throws things on the floor while waiting for a reaction.

Re: Food Control Issues- What do you do?

It's so hard when a great eater suddenly becomes picky bc we are not used to having to deal with the issue.

My DS is 21 months and we've have pickiness and food refusal twice, and both times it was due to something (vs him just wanting to control something). The 1st time it happened a little after he turned 1 and it was due to teething; lasted maybe 2 weeks. The 2nd time was just about a month ago. My great eater was barely eating. The only meal that he ate well was breakfast. Lunch and dinner he took a few bites and then refused, or wouldn't touch it at all. I didn't know what to do. I'd take him down from the chair and put him back 15 minutes later, nothing. He skipped lunch, and then wouldn't eat dinner. I was worried.

Turns out my DS was constipated I had no idea. He was still pooping once a day (although his usual is 2-3 times) but I thought he was fine. After 3 calls to the ped bc of not eating and DS doubling over in pain we had an xray done, he was constipated, he just didn't have any room for the food. Once he was better he went back to eating everything.

While it could be behavioral and just a phase, make sure you rule out the possibility that something else is causing it. Hope things get better soon!