Our Struggle with Pediatric Feeding Issues

Since our son was born we tried to do all of the “right” things, including nursing him and making homemade organic baby food for him to eat.  However, as his feeding therapists explained, even if you try to do all of the “right” things, it’s no guarantee that your child won’t have struggles. 

Big Brother has always been very sensitive to the sight and texture of his food.  He never transitioned from stage 2 baby food (smooth in texture) to stage 3 baby food (chunky in texture), let alone table food, and had extremely strong reactions when he tried to eat chunkier foods.  When my husband and I would try to get him to eat chunky foods (pressuring him to eat foods doesn’t work by the way), he would gag and vomit - everywhere - so much so that we'd have to end the family meal...one of us would give him a bath, while the other cleaned the kitchen.  Over the course of time, he significantly narrowed the number of foods he would eat. 

At each of Big Brother's checkups, I’d voice my concerns to his doctor, but he'd just chalk it up to our son being a "picky eater" and that he “just doesn’t like” the foods that we would try to feed him, which was pretty much everything!  By the time Big Brother was 19 months old he had limited himself to only eating wheat-free banana muffins, Beefsteak light rye toast with butter, Mott’s applesauce, and Yoplait strawberry yogurt.  I knew there was a problem, I just didn’t know what. 

I did some research online, read a few books (see below), and found a feeding therapy team in the area, but we needed a referral from his doctor to go.  Armed with the research, I finally convinced his doctor that our son wasn’t “just picky.”  Our doctor provided a referral for Big Brother to be evaluated by a feeding therapy team.  A couple of notes:

• I encourage you to press your doctor if you feel he/she is downplaying an issue that concerns you; after all, you know your child better than the doctor – you are with your child every day and the doctor periodically sees your child for only a few minutes.
• Our doctor is a good physician and a very likeable person, which is why we still see him.  However, Big Brother’s feeding therapists explained that our doctor’s response was a typical one since physicians often aren’t familiar with pediatric feeding disorders.

In December 2009, a pediatric occupational therapist, pediatric speech therapist, and behavioral psychologist evaluated Big Brother.  After speaking with us and observing him eat, they determined that he would benefit from oral sensory motor feeding therapy.  (He also underwent a modified barium swallow study after which they concluded that he didn’t have any physical problems that were contributing to his feeding issues.)  For kids with sensory issues, eating isn't fun and can be quite scary.  Kids with sensory issues protect themselves by sticking with foods they feel safe eating.  In Big Brother's case, he will only eat crunchy dry foods and foods with a smooth consistency.  (This article, Everything is a Grasshopper, does a great job of explaining what eating is like for kids with sensory issues.)

We attended food therapy every other week for four months.  The therapists were pleased with his progress and made recommendations for continuing his therapy at home.  We periodically keep them apprised of Big Brother’s progress via email and they provide us with additional recommendations to continue his therapy.  While Big Brother has increased the number of foods he’ll accept, his food repertoire is still very limited compared with other children.  It is difficult to travel and go to a restaurant with him because he is very particular about what food he will eat. 

The therapists advised that Big Brother’s feeding issues will be an ongoing struggle for us and will likely continue for years to come as there is no “quick fix.”  I pray that since we recognized the issue so early in his life we can help him to view food in a positive way.

Some Books to Get Started:

Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding Problems, and Expand Your Child’s Diet, by Cheri Fraker, Dr. Mark Fishbein, Sibyl Cox, Laura Walbert does a great job of comparing and contrasting picky eaters vs. problem eaters so you can determine if there is in fact an issue with your child.  It also explains what to expect during food therapy sessions and introduces the concept of "Food Chaining."
















The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder, by Carol Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller explains sensory processing disorder and provides activities you can do with your child to help him learn about his environment.