Popular Posts From the Past: When to Seek Help- Feeding and Eating

*This post first appeared on my former blog on February 22, 2011

Having a good day!

When Bot first began having issues with his tummy, I researched like mad trying to understand what was going on with my little guy. Then I noticed his development was off, he was regressing in speech, he was having problems during feedings, my little boy was just not quite right. Once again I researched every article I could find in hopes of finding answers but most of all I just wanted to read real life experiences so that I could relate and know that I was not the only mom of a child going through these things. The problem was that most everything I have found related to children older than Bot. It is my hope that our experience with early intervention and what we have gone through may be of help to another mom out there wondering if she should seek help for her child.

Disclaimer: This is not intended to substitute the advice of a medical professional. Please consult your pediatrician and/or state Early Intervention agency if you have concerns.

When It Goes Beyond Just Being A Picky Eater:
In the US, it's common to start your child on solids (cereals and baby food) anywhere from 4-6 months of age. Some infants may try their first few bites and choke a bit or seem uninterested because they need another month or so and then others take right to eating like it was what they were meant to do. And then there are others who completely lack the instinct of what do with solids and have no idea what they should do with this new foreign substance in their mouth. The latter was our experience with Bot who did not even have his first bites of baby food until 8 months, a bit behind the typical 4-6 months. He seemed to enjoy the taste of stage one baby foods but he would only eat them as long as we gave him tiny bites. If the spoon was too full, he would gag then vomit as soon as the lump entered his mouth or he would inhale it because he was not sure how to swallow. As if that wasn't traumatic enough, his food ,once in his system, was not digesting due to GI motility issues. With our pediatrician's consent we stopped all solids and stuck to only breastfeeding until we could get Bot's system a little better regulated. With the help of a GI and a dietitian, we were able to re-introduce solids around a year of age. Just like the first time Bot tried baby food, he still was unsure of what to do once food was in his mouth. Since then, feeding him has been one battle after another. He goes through good and bad phases. We have experienced self induced gagging and vomiting, pocketing food in his mouth, completely chewing then spitting food, refusing food, swallowing without chewing, and aspirating, just to name a few of the behaviors. Many of these behaviors he tries to do secretly when I turn around to get him a drink or become focused on my own food or talking to Saha. Bot also has texture issues and sensitivity in his gums both of which are associated with his SPD. Currently he is in eating therapy two hours bi-weekly and one hour weekly plus he receives assistance with feeding at the Birth to Three center during mealtime. Even with that much intervention, he still has good days and bad days though the bad ones are becoming fewer. If your child is exhibiting any of Bot's behaviors for a prolonged period of time, talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. Feeding issues can turn into serious disorders later on if not treated properly.

If you have any questions or want to talk about your experiences with feeding issues, I'd love to hear from you! You are not alone in this.

Contact a professional if your child exhibits ANY of these symptoms:
-poor weight gain or notable weight loss
-repeat episodes of self-induced vomiting
-frequent episodes of choking, gagging, or vomiting during meals
-extreme fits during meal time (crying, arching back)
-avoidance of all foods in one food group
-avoidance of all foods of a certain texture
-inability to transition to solids or accept table food by one year of age
-feeding becomes stressful not only for the child, but for everyone involved

For more information about feeding issues please visit the following websites:
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Picky Eating or Feeding Disorder?
Feeding Disorders and Picky Eating in Infants and Children
SOS Feeding Therapy 

Special thanks to Jessica K. for being a supportive friend and helping me navigate my way though Bot's feeding issues. I would be alone and lost without your help!

Update as of 2/2014 - Bot, who is almost five years old now, is no longer in feeding therapy though he still has issues with textures.