Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Hi Judi. Glad you felt comfortable enough to come forward and discuss some of your concerns about Dalia. Our thoughts are with her and hope she is doing well otherwise. Judi, in MY opinion, I would consider having Dalia reviewed by a feeding therapist. If she has having difficulty swallowing and you already are considering that she has sensory and low mobility - it would only benefit her to be seen by a specialist in that area. If it were me, I would not consider offering her foods that may induce choking - but, rather provide her with foods that are easily swallowed, i.e, mashed potatoes with butter, pudding....light textured foods that are calorie dense but do not require much chewing. If she is choking - she may be having problems moving her tongue from the front to the back of her mouth. Ian had speech therapy when he was younger and this may be a consideration for Dalia as well. His therapy also included feeding therapy. From what I understand, they both go hand in hand. I know there are many parents here that have dealt and are dealing with this issue and I'm sure they will offer you suggestions as well. My best to you. Welcome aboard. Ian's grandma has been a lurker here as well - it's so great to have family members participate in a very important aspect of our childrens' lives. Our best to you. - H > > Hi All - I'm Dalia's grandma, Sheryl's mom, and I've been kinda standing back and reading all your e-mails. This group is so supportive and wonderful. I'm so glad that we found you. I'm concerned about Dalia, who was 2 on 11/17, since she still refuses to eat on her own. She won't put any food in her mouth and has to be spoon fed at all times. She will take a crumb of a cracker or whatever and mostly pretend to put it in her mouth but really doesn't. She has sensory issues in her mouth and I think maybe low tone also. She seems to choke easily and becomes very afraid which makes it understandable that she wouldn't want to put food in her mouth and risk having that happen again. She does, however, eat fairly well when fed pureed foods with small pieces, even pasta, which she seems to love. > > Anyway, Sheryl and I have talked about just putting the food down in front of her and walking away to give her the idea that she has to feed herself if she's to get any food at all. I think that, given enough time, she'll pick up her spoon or grab a handfull and start to eat. Of course, the risk of her choking is scary but I think that it's fear as much as anything. > > So, I was wondering if I could hear from any of you who have had these kinds of problems to let us know what you think and what you have done. Any information and help you give is so appreciated. > > Thanks in advance, > Judi - Grandma to Dalia, 2, - RSS and Hanna - 5 months - non-RSS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 -------------- Original message ---------------------- Thanks for your quick response. I guess I forgot to mention that Dalia is seeing a feeding specialist for quite some time now. She has helped but I don't know what her opinion is about my idea. I guess that would be the next step, to discuss it with her and see what she thinks. I appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from others who may have experience with this. Thanks, Judi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Oh bummer, I was hoping this was getting better! Last time I talked to Sheryl I did have a few suggestions but not many. My son, , is 6 and had severe low tone throughout and used a walker before he could walk on his own. He had these eating issues, same as Emerence. The choking part killed me. I was also so afraid! Has Sheryl taken cpr for infants/kids? That might help make her a little more confident. My only other thoughts are letting Dahlia use pudding as paint, maybe she will lick her hands? Also my kids preferred hands first rathter than a spoon. I am sure she has but has she taken Dahlia to a Walmart and let her pick out a " special " set of tableware, ie, strawberry shortcake cup, bowl spoon and utentsils? Also, Emerence liked to drink from a cup so no matter how messy she got to try that and that helped the utensils bit... , mom to 6 and Emerence 34 mo 25 lbs 34 " > > Hi All - I'm Dalia's grandma, Sheryl's mom, and I've been kinda standing back and reading all your e-mails. This group is so supportive and wonderful. I'm so glad that we found you. I'm concerned about Dalia, who was 2 on 11/17, since she still refuses to eat on her own. She won't put any food in her mouth and has to be spoon fed at all times. She will take a crumb of a cracker or whatever and mostly pretend to put it in her mouth but really doesn't. She has sensory issues in her mouth and I think maybe low tone also. She seems to choke easily and becomes very afraid which makes it understandable that she wouldn't want to put food in her mouth and risk having that happen again. She does, however, eat fairly well when fed pureed foods with small pieces, even pasta, which she seems to love. > > Anyway, Sheryl and I have talked about just putting the food down in front of her and walking away to give her the idea that she has to feed herself if she's to get any food at all. I think that, given enough time, she'll pick up her spoon or grab a handfull and start to eat. Of course, the risk of her choking is scary but I think that it's fear as much as anything. > > So, I was wondering if I could hear from any of you who have had these kinds of problems to let us know what you think and what you have done. Any information and help you give is so appreciated. > > Thanks in advance, > Judi - Grandma to Dalia, 2, - RSS and Hanna - 5 months - non-RSS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 -------------- Original message ---------------------- Those are all good ideas. Thanks. You know this grandma will be taking her sweet grandbaby to buy her own " china " . And the pudding is a great idea too. Keep the ideas coming - every one of them helps. By the way, I read Sheryl's posting and was also concerned to hear that some people lose their appetite on GH. I thought the opposite would happen. Thanks, Judi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Hello. My son had texture issues for a LONG time. We took him for a swallow evaluation to rule out physical abnormalities and even at that time he wouldn't eat anything. That was just a few months ago. I now realize that MY FEAR of him choking was part of the problem. I was terrified to give him anything solid, even if it was just a morsel, because he would gag. After the swallow eval. I had to make myself start feeding him things that I was sure he would gag on and believe it or not, he did so much better than I had allowed myself to believe he could. I started out with the hull-less popcorn, then spagetti-o's, then elbow macaroni........cut up, of course. One day I brought out the macaroni and asked my fiance' to feed Brockton while I was doing something and when I came back out he was feeding him WHOLE NOODLES...........and he wasn't choking!!! I couldn't believe it! We gradually started giving him other things, like tiny bits of chicken, and little by little the pieces have gotten bigger. He still prefers not feed himself though. That's okay, as long he eats! I guess my suggestion is to just keep trying. Start out with small pieces and work up to bigger pieces of the same thing, like macaroni or chicken nuggets. That's what worked for us! Good luck! Jeanie P.S. I know how frustrating it is. Brockton hasn't gagged on his food in quite awhile but he still refuses to eat sometimes and it frustrates me. I LOVE FOOD! I just can't imagine not loving it! Mnjblack@... wrote: Hi All - I'm Dalia's grandma, Sheryl's mom, and I've been kinda standing back and reading all your e-mails. This group is so supportive and wonderful. I'm so glad that we found you. I'm concerned about Dalia, who was 2 on 11/17, since she still refuses to eat on her own. She won't put any food in her mouth and has to be spoon fed at all times. She will take a crumb of a cracker or whatever and mostly pretend to put it in her mouth but really doesn't. She has sensory issues in her mouth and I think maybe low tone also. She seems to choke easily and becomes very afraid which makes it understandable that she wouldn't want to put food in her mouth and risk having that happen again. She does, however, eat fairly well when fed pureed foods with small pieces, even pasta, which she seems to love. Anyway, Sheryl and I have talked about just putting the food down in front of her and walking away to give her the idea that she has to feed herself if she's to get any food at all. I think that, given enough time, she'll pick up her spoon or grab a handfull and start to eat. Of course, the risk of her choking is scary but I think that it's fear as much as anything. So, I was wondering if I could hear from any of you who have had these kinds of problems to let us know what you think and what you have done. Any information and help you give is so appreciated. Thanks in advance, Judi - Grandma to Dalia, 2, - RSS and Hanna - 5 months - non-RSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Very good point, . Brockton did participate in some feeding therapy with his O.T. and S.T. and if Dalia hasn't had a swallowing evaluation, it might be a good idea. It's not a terrible proceedure. Very simple and fast. advocate22003 wrote: Hi Judi. Glad you felt comfortable enough to come forward and discuss some of your concerns about Dalia. Our thoughts are with her and hope she is doing well otherwise. Judi, in MY opinion, I would consider having Dalia reviewed by a feeding therapist. If she has having difficulty swallowing and you already are considering that she has sensory and low mobility - it would only benefit her to be seen by a specialist in that area. If it were me, I would not consider offering her foods that may induce choking - but, rather provide her with foods that are easily swallowed, i.e, mashed potatoes with butter, pudding....light textured foods that are calorie dense but do not require much chewing. If she is choking - she may be having problems moving her tongue from the front to the back of her mouth. Ian had speech therapy when he was younger and this may be a consideration for Dalia as well. His therapy also included feeding therapy. From what I understand, they both go hand in hand. I know there are many parents here that have dealt and are dealing with this issue and I'm sure they will offer you suggestions as well. My best to you. Welcome aboard. Ian's grandma has been a lurker here as well - it's so great to have family members participate in a very important aspect of our childrens' lives. Our best to you. - H > > Hi All - I'm Dalia's grandma, Sheryl's mom, and I've been kinda standing back and reading all your e-mails. This group is so supportive and wonderful. I'm so glad that we found you. I'm concerned about Dalia, who was 2 on 11/17, since she still refuses to eat on her own. She won't put any food in her mouth and has to be spoon fed at all times. She will take a crumb of a cracker or whatever and mostly pretend to put it in her mouth but really doesn't. She has sensory issues in her mouth and I think maybe low tone also. She seems to choke easily and becomes very afraid which makes it understandable that she wouldn't want to put food in her mouth and risk having that happen again. She does, however, eat fairly well when fed pureed foods with small pieces, even pasta, which she seems to love. > > Anyway, Sheryl and I have talked about just putting the food down in front of her and walking away to give her the idea that she has to feed herself if she's to get any food at all. I think that, given enough time, she'll pick up her spoon or grab a handfull and start to eat. Of course, the risk of her choking is scary but I think that it's fear as much as anything. > > So, I was wondering if I could hear from any of you who have had these kinds of problems to let us know what you think and what you have done. Any information and help you give is so appreciated. > > Thanks in advance, > Judi - Grandma to Dalia, 2, - RSS and Hanna - 5 months - non-RSS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 - great point about picking out the special feeding utensils. When Ian was in the hospital this recent stay - one of the reasons he refused to eat was because he didn't have his favorite " baby fork and spoon " that he used at home. Well, we brought it to the hospital and it still didn't work - but, he liked having it with him. I still like the idea. - H > > > > Hi All - I'm Dalia's grandma, Sheryl's mom, and I've been kinda > standing back and reading all your e-mails. This group is so > supportive and wonderful. I'm so glad that we found you. I'm > concerned about Dalia, who was 2 on 11/17, since she still refuses > to eat on her own. She won't put any food in her mouth and has to > be spoon fed at all times. She will take a crumb of a cracker or > whatever and mostly pretend to put it in her mouth but really > doesn't. She has sensory issues in her mouth and I think maybe low > tone also. She seems to choke easily and becomes very afraid which > makes it understandable that she wouldn't want to put food in her > mouth and risk having that happen again. She does, however, eat > fairly well when fed pureed foods with small pieces, even pasta, > which she seems to love. > > > > Anyway, Sheryl and I have talked about just putting the food down > in front of her and walking away to give her the idea that she has > to feed herself if she's to get any food at all. I think that, > given enough time, she'll pick up her spoon or grab a handfull and > start to eat. Of course, the risk of her choking is scary but I > think that it's fear as much as anything. > > > > So, I was wondering if I could hear from any of you who have had > these kinds of problems to let us know what you think and what you > have done. Any information and help you give is so appreciated. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > Judi - Grandma to Dalia, 2, - RSS and Hanna - 5 months - non-RSS > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2006 Report Share Posted January 4, 2006 -------------- Original message ---------------------- Hi Jeanie - I'm so glad you responded. Dalia is going to have a swallow study plus G.I. Series to rule out any abnormalities. If everything is ok, I feel that we have to try doing what you have done. Her mom, Sheryl, is terrified of her choking (so am I) and I think Dalia is too, but I think it's like overcoming fears of all kinds. I'm encouraged hearing your story. We'll keep you posted. Thanks, Judi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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