Re: Eating Issues

January 16, 2006

Has your daughter tried putting on a video to distract Dalia while

she is trying to feed her? Many of us have had to go that route.

It's amazing what we can slip in while they are distracted.

Also, has she tried just putting out snacks for Dalia to pick at

during the day? For example, we used to put out Cheerios for Max.

I set bowls down at various places where he was playing and he would

just sort of reach over and put a couple in his mouth.

Another technique I learned was putting Max in his high chair and

placing a glob of baby food in the tray. Max just played with it,

it got in his hair and all over him, but some did make it to his

mouth and he got to taste it. This worked great with peaches and

bananas. The object was to let him experience the food and learn

that it is something to be enjoyed, not endured.

I know how stressful this is. We all do. The more stress you feel

with feeding time, the more stress Dalia will feel. And she is at

an age where NO is common and a way for her to try to get control.

Unfortunately, she needs the food, so it has to go on. But, then

again, your daughter must be doing something right if Dalia is

gaining weight and Dr. H. did not recommend a feeding tube!

Jodi Z

January 16, 2006

Hi Judi this is Sheldon, G-Pa to Laikyn(45months). I was going to suggest the

same things Jodi did. My Daughter had the same problem's,as most other

one's i am sure but did what Jodi said. She is such a smart women isn't she. LOL

Any how try those idea's and eating will be a much better time for all.

Sheldon

Eating Issues

Hi, this is Judi, Grandma to Dalia, age 26 months, mom to Sheryl, Dalia's mom.

I posted a couple of weeks ago for the first time and now have some questions I

need answered. I'm hoping those of you with experience will be able to help.

Dalia has seen Dr. H. twice, I believe, and she has prescribed GH therapy which

is to start in the next week or so. Dalia has always had eating issues due to

reflux, sensory issues in her mouth, etc. She's had a feeding specialist for a

very long time plus an OT who works with her. She refuses to feed herself at

all and must be fed each meal plus snacks two times a day. My daughter has

become very frustrated because each of these meals is a real struggle. Dalia

will shake her head " no " and refuse the food much of the time. She does usually

get in maybe three or four spoonfuls but not much more at this time. There have

also been times when she'll eat much better than this (gro wth periods?) but

more often it's a battle at each meal. What I want to know is if others out

there have had this happen and how do you deal with it? Do you not fight with

your child and let them go without eating hardly anything at all? Or do you

keep battling until you get in spoon after spoon, making mealtime very

unpleasant? Dr. H. has never suggested gtube or anything like that. Please, if

someone can just give us some guidance, we'd be very grateful. This is starting

to become a very emotional issue for us and we really need some helpful

suggestions. Thanks to all of you. This group is a Godsend and I'm so glad we

found you.

Judi, Grandma to Dalia (RSS) and Hanna (non-RSS)

January 17, 2006

Hi Judi

What Jodi Z described is exactly what I have always done with my 13 year old RSS

son. I even had the lowest drawer in my kitchen converted to the " Adam drawer " .

In it I had spoons, bowls, chips, cookies, pudding etc. etc. etc. so that Adam

could go and help himself. My son is incredibly independent (and still is much

to my dismay!!) and if he can find an inch to exert his independence by saying

NO; he will!! He could be starving but just because he can say NO he will!! So I

turned everything around so that HE was deciding what to eat and when.

Of course, during the " proper " meal times, he always started at the table, but

if he wanted down off the high chair, I let him go. I always left his plate

" out " where he could reach it and it seemed when the day was said and done he

had eaten the same amount of food compared to if I had stood on my head and

fought with him all day. This way was much easier on everyone. He never has had

a feeding tube.

Good luck I know, as many of us do, how absolutely trying and exhausting this

is.

Oh one thing I wanted to mention, for our kids, it really doesn't work (or so it

seems from what I have read) to do the " well if you don't eat what is in front

of you; you get nothing " . Our kids will just NOT eat. For the non-RSS child,

this might work (where they eventually come back and eat because they are

hungry). Our kids just don't seem to feel hunger like others, so it doesn't work

and, as you have already figured out, can be dangerous. They just have to eat.

Take care

Debby