3 year old autistic boy will eat nothing but cookies

[madmaddam]

Our 3 year old autistic boy will not eat anything AT ALL. Except vanilla wafers. He does drink a lot of apple juice and some fruit punch. He also drinks about 2 baby bottles of formula daily (keeping him on this for his vitamins and nutriments). We tried force feeding but any feeding is a physical battle of flying arms, hands, clenched teeth, twisting head, etc. Not wanted to tramatize him anymore we have given up and are letting him eat his cookies. He appears healthy and is even becoming chubby (probably from the sugar). He goes to a school for handicap children and his teacher is as troubled as we are. He does not speak and lives in his own little spongebob world. I have just read a bit on the GAPS diet, but wonder how they expect us to get these foods into a child that will not take food of any kind? I agree that his autism may have been passed from mom's system as she had kidney problems as a child and lived on anti biotics. So I can understand why his gut may have been effected when he was born. Also, he had a bad virus his first year and had strong anti biotics then too. It was probably enough to distroy his gut lining as they described in the video (GAPS). I would like to get him started on this but don't know how. Any suggestions on how to get the foods into a mouth that won't open? HELP, PLEASE!

[candlelover40]

I agree, I think an occupational therapist could be very useful not only for eating issues but others as well. They might be able to find foods that he loves besides the vanilla wafers.

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Consider seeing an occupational therapist.  My son has sensory integration disorder and we've worked on his feeding issues.  They've introduced different foods and worked out things for him to try.  It's been very helpful.