Fussy eating/refusing to eat

[Bluebirdgirl]

My 5 year old girl will be going through the process of being diagnosed in the coming year. I’ve felt sure she has autism for probably the last two years as she is so much like her older brothers that have asd.

She has always been a very fussy eater. She won’t even eat bread. A cereal that she liked to eat changed the texture and taste about 6-8 weeks ago. So she stopped eating that because the new one was quite different. Since then it’s been a downward spiral.
She takes a multi vitamin and fish oil capsules (chewable) and she has basically been surviving on hospital formula sustagen.
She will eat anything sweet like lollies, chocolate and ice creams all day long if she could. Most days this fortnight I’m struggling to get her to eat anything. Even take away.

Does anyone have any experience with this?
If it continues after the Christmas break I will have to see the gp.
She’s on a waiting list to see an OT and won’t be back to the pediatrician until June.
She has other sensory issues as well as food.

[gorgeousgeorge]

Im sorry I dont have any real experience with this but if she likes sweet stuff, would you be able to make smoothies sweetened with banana or pinapple and chuck in some healthy stuff like cucmbers or an egg so she doesnt notice it amd maybe make it really runny so it just seems like a drink/milkshake? At least that way she would get some nutrients in addition to the sugar? Sorry if thats not really helpful, just the only suggestion I could think of. I hope others have some helpful ideas. Good luck. :-)

[Bluebirdgirl]

Thanks for replying 🙂
She’s very on to me with stuff like the slightest difference she will know.
Kids with sensory issues are super difficult.

[Mod-Degrassi]

My DS (turns 9 in Feb) is autistic and has struggled over the years with his sensory issues regarding food. I’m pleased to say that he is slowly improving, though there are still many foods he will not try.

We have done a number of sessions with a feeding specialist. Without our therapist’s help we would not be where we are now.

The method used to get them to eat new foods is play based - you start by just getting them to look at the food, touch it, smell it, touch it on their lips/teeth, then trying to build up to them taking teeny tiny bites.

It can take a while for them to accept a new food and you’ll find there are some foods that they find far too hard (for example we’ve tried apple a number of times but DS finds it too tricky and he gags).

Happy to answer any questions

[Bluebirdgirl]

My DS (turns 9 in Feb) is autistic and has struggled over the years with his sensory issues regarding food. I’m pleased to say that he is slowly improving, though there are still many foods he will not try.

We have done a number of sessions with a feeding specialist. Without our therapist’s help we would not be where we are now.

The method used to get them to eat new foods is play based - you start by just getting them to look at the food, touch it, smell it, touch it on their lips/teeth, then trying to build up to them taking teeny tiny bites.

It can take a while for them to accept a new food and you’ll find there are some foods that they find far too hard (for example we’ve tried apple a number of times but DS finds it too tricky and he gags).

Happy to answer any questions

Thanks for replying 🙂

We were going to do something like that with my son with asd with his ot. We couldn’t afford to see the ot all the time though after our funding ran out so we didn’t follow through. He is a poor eater but he has a set group of food he will eat and he eats a lot. I would like to try help him again but I’ve had to pick who’s needs were the most urgent last year and it was their brother who has needed attention first. 😑

I’ve heard of feeding specialists, but I don’t know anything about it at all. We live regional, is that something that would be available? We are in the public system now but have to see private ot etc.
They are super busy here and everything takes so long.

Did your son have foods that he did eat and then stop eating? Both of mine have done that.
My son is almost 11 and he tried something new yesterday. My eldest son is asd and eats well. He was 5 when he just decided he would eat mostly anything!
(Sorry sounds confusing - 2 asd sons and one most likely asd daughter.)

[Mod-Degrassi]

We found out about our feeding expert from DS’s speech therapist - we live regionally as well (NSW). We were able to use NDIS funds to pay for the sessions. I would ask your kid’s therapists if they know a feeding expert in your area. If there isn’t one, OT’s and speechies can still help work on feeding as one of your goals using the methods I described.

My DS ate a decent array of foods, but gradually started refusing to eat things he once enjoyed. By age 3 he was very limited.

My DS has been a tough nut to crack - he still has a lot of limitations, but we are so happy that he’s showing increased flexibility and willingness to try new foods.

[Bluebirdgirl]

Thanks for that info @Mod-Degrassi
Glad things are going well for your son 🙂

[LoveLivesHere]

I tried to pm you but my photos won't upload in pm system.
Hoping some of theis might help til you get to a speech therapist.

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[LoveLivesHere]

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[Bluebirdgirl]

Oh thank you @LoveLivesHere
I will save those. Very kind of you to do that x