Forced vomiting at 2 1/2

[Minnie Castle]

At daycare Alex sticks his fingers down his throat to make himself vomit. This has lasted for a few months but the parent was told only Friday . On Friday he did it agin and did vomit some food for the first time.  Hehas been characterized as a h appywell-adjusted child until now. The only  thing I can think of is the fact that his father is travelling in his job now at least prtof every week. He has an older sister who is doing very well in kindergarten. Alex takes evey opportunity to hit her and knocks her toys. He eats and sleeps well  most of the time.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I am reluctant to view this behavior as a psychiatric symptom in a child so young. Before assuming that the symptom has a psychological or emotional basis, which it might, it is important to consider medical issues. This order of priority is all the more important to follow if the child is, to all appearances, well adjusted (though the behavior toward his sister lends some doubt to how well adjusted he is). A certain amount of sibling conflict is, of couse, not unusual, but when such conflcit is frequent and is embodied in physical aggression there is more reason to worry. What I would do right away is notify his pediatrician about the symptom and perhaps arrange an evaluation by a pediatric gastroenterologist.