My Child Won't Eat!

N.,

I preface this by saying, I'm not a doctor - so I assume your peditrician has determined no medical problem.

Has he never eaten any baby food and liked it?

Could it be a control issue? By the time my kids were two they were pretty smart and had looked over the situation and thought they were in charge.

A couple of suggestions - always serve him a variety of food when the family eats that he can pick up and eat himself (maybe along with applesauce or yogurt). By 2, my children fed themselves.

He probably drinks enough milk to keep him from getting hungry. Make sure he's not drinking a lot of milk right before meal time when he sits down with his food. Don't let him carry a cup of milk around with him while he's playing. Always serve him milk in the high chair, in a cup, along with a pick-up food for him to try.

Make sure he has some choices - do you want yogurt or applesauce with your veggie puffs / cereal bar. Also let him choose what he wants to wear or some other similar choice so he feels he has control in other areas.

Is he around other kids? If he's at play group and all the kids are eating animal crackers or cheerios - he just might have to try it too.

Last but not least - try not to make a big deal about it and shower him with attention and choices that don't involve food.

Hope something works.

Hi N.
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While I have no experience in anything more than a picky-eater, it sounds to me like your lil one might have a physical issue to overcome. My sis in law works with children on developmental issues and a lot of preemies who often have a problem with what she calls "thrust" - something to do with gagging on food and how they use their tongues. Her son (who was 8 wks preemie) did it for a while when he was given toddler foods - gag, etc if the bites weren't cut to miniscule sized pieces. He outgrew it in a few months, but yours may need to see someone about this since it has gone on for this long. Have you spoken with your pediatrician about this? I can't imagine this is just a case of pickiness b/c as you mentioned, he gags. Good luck.

I suggest alternating bites of apple sauce and yogart. Pull a puff in with one of the bites. It will be soft enough that he might just eat it.
This is how I introduce new foods to my toddler. Or try giving him the dried Apple pieces by Gerber. Good luck!

It is frustrating, but do not give up! I have been there. You may have to try every trick in the book and change it every time.
For nutrition try hiding liquid vitamins in the milk or yogurt or try vitamin gummy bears. Its not perfect nutrition, but it will help. If your child does not like textures, your child may have a mouth sensitivity. My child did. Help desensitize it by letting him chew things. Straw, toothbrush, plastic or rubber tubes. If you know an occupational therapist ask them for some mouth sensory suggestions.
For eating new things. Just keep putting small amounts of it on the plate. That will help your child get used to seeing it. Try to get the child to at least try it each time it is put on the plate. Even if the child Gags and spits it out, praise their effort of trying. Now find motivators that work for your child. The finding our Childs Motivators can used to help your child over the toughest obstacles.
One mom I know had a child that did not eat carrots because of its texture. Her child saw Bugs Bunny eat a carrot and badly wanted to be like bugs bunny. The first tries the child gagged and spit it out, but the child kept trying and eventually got it down. That child's want to eat a carrot liked Buggs Bunny gave the child the determination to eat the carrots.
Forget manors for now, Make eating a game. One thing my child hated was noodles. We made eating noodles a race. We each dangled a noodle from our mouths and had a race to see who could slurped up the noodle and eat it the fastest.
Look at that pea. he's going to roll of the plate better get him before he gets away.
Daddy is going to steal your chicken. quick eat a bite so Daddy doesn't take it. ( have Dad pretend to take it)
Motivator if you eat a bite of this you can have you ________favorite.
If you want to play this you need to take a bite of this.
Give the child power. (power appropriate) When the child feels like they have some control over things they are more willing to do things. Example: Let the child help decided what needs to be fixed for dinner. Give choice. Should I make chicken or should I make Mash potatoes. Let child help in age appropriate food preparation, let the child put food on there own plate.
If possible get favorite friends model eating foods want child to eat. This got my child to eat apples for the first time. His friends were eating apples so he wanted to eat them. He still does not like the texture of apples, but will eat them when he sees friends to do it.
Or in his case find the same food in a different texture. My son hates fruits of any kind, but will eat freeze dried fruits no problem.
Also change the same of foods if possible. Cookie cutters are great. My son will not eat a regular shaped sandwich will take a bite and gag, but the same sandwich shaped like a boat will gobble right down. Will not touch chicken bites, but shaped like a dinosaur eats the right up.
Change eating location. Sometimes helps. My Son sometimes will eat something as a picnic on the floor but will not eat it at the table.
Find ways to Hide food in favorite foods.
Even if it is only a small amount a small amount is better than none. My child hates fruits and some vegetables, so I puree them and stick them in pancakes. Vegetables only in very small amount because of taste, Now he is eating more vegetables so I do not have to hide as many.
Just remember don't give up. Small steps. Start with a bite of a food and as child is more willing increase that foods portion size.

Has he had a feeding evaluation? See a speech-language pathologist to get one. An occupational therapist may also be involved in the evaluation. There could be some oral-motor involvement, or it could just be a behavioral feeding issue. Either way, he can get a feeding evaluation (Try Children's hospital or Baylor). Most insurance covers evaluations but you might have to battle them for therapy. Hope this helps!