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clairbear
13-09-2006, 14:23
Dear Pero Clinic Expert..... prepare for a long rant, sorry:ecomcity:
I am aware that kids this age go through fussy eating periods and that this is completely normal, however I am starting to feel concerned about my three year old missing out on proper nutrition for his general wellbeing (he weighs 16.5 kg and is 103cm tall, i am not worrying about his weight as such).
As a baby/young toddler he ate a great variety of foods, loving lamb chops, tuna, broccoli, raw vegies, fruit, cheese, bread and lots of finger foods. He now has real texture issues... during the time he embraced finger foods he refused food that required spoon feeding (even if given the spoon himself), and gagged on anything other than smooth yoghurt or custard. Now he only seems to want crunchy foods like raw pasta (recoils at cooked), lebanese bread cooked with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top, rice crackers, any type of biscuit, cracker or crunchy chip (which I try to limit), grated parmesan cheese, raw carrots and celery, apple and pear, some dried fruit. He is beginning to find a speck of brown in a banana and refuse to eat it. I have been giving him a banana and egg smoothie for breaky but lately he says "no banana". He used to love raw red capsicum now refuses it. Won't even eat normal bread anymore. Doesn't like anything hot. Won't eat any meat or fish. He has a kids vitamin every day, and a yakult drink, and I only give him water. Bribing him with treats (a soy choc icecream, muesli bar etc) works very occasionally to get him to eat a few pieces of cheese. I always put an array of healthy foods out on the table for him to choose from but I feel like the tiny square of foods he'll eat is shrinking. Of course he will devour chocolate mud birthday cake, but no longer eats my carrot muffins.
I am starting to freak out that he may have autism but everyone laughs at me, saying don't be ridiculous he is a normal three year old. But how come all the other three year olds in my mothers group ate bread rolls, sausages etc at a recent bbq and my son ate rice crackers???
I know i sound like i am losing it here, swore i would never worry about food, but his behaviour has been very challenging of late and although I know a lot of this stuff may be connected with the fact that he has a six month old baby brother ( who is very easy and is adored by his older brother) but i am beginning to think some of his behaviour may be nutrition deficiency related. He also sleeps a good 12 hours each night, and has a two or three hour day sleep almost every day..may not have energy(?)
He is booked in to see a paediatrician in Nov. Thanks for reading

the pero clinic
22-09-2006, 09:07
Dear Clairbear,

I am glad to hear that you are going to see a Paediatrician (even if it isn’t for a while). It is important to investigate any underlying medical causes that would account for a change in a child’s behaviour, eating, sleeping or growth.

While autism can account for extremely fussy eating, a child would also need to demonstrate delays or difficulties in a range of other areas including communication, play, interaction and behaviour.

Your son’s food behaviours and history sound quite complicated. In this instance, it is probably worth seeing someone about his feeding and nutrition. A paediatric dietitian can provide you with information about feeding routines, growth and nutrients, while a feeding specialist can look at the oral sensory and behavioural issues.

In the meantime, some general advice would be to avoid using ‘yummy’ foods (or any food) as a bribe. Find another way to encourage your son to try different foods – such as playing a special game / toy afterwards. Make sure that whatever you use is motivating for him, and is only given / available after having a taste of a food.

Also try to avoid inadvertently encouraging your son’s fussiness by showing him signs of anxiety or frustration; giving him more time and attention in extended meal preparation or eating times; talking about his fussiness to him or to others when he is around; or assuming that he will or won’t eat a certain food on a given day – continue to offer a variety of foods, but limit his choice to 2 or 3 foods at a time.

the pero clinic