Oral Defensiveness? HELP!!

[EmaofThree]

My son's regression in eating is starting to really worry me.  He is 2.5 and had speech therapy from 16 months to 22months, at which some oral issues were identified, but at the end of 22 months, it was stated that he no longer qualified for services, as he had progressed out of hte SPEECH arena, and he needed other issues to be considerd for oral therapy O.T.

He's always been a picky eater.. but now He LITERALLY will only eat the following: Crackers, cereal (only a few kinds... very picky), Applesauce, Pizza and of course, Gummies, Chips, etc....(Junk Food)which I refuse to have on a regular basis..

SOMETIMES he will eat..Grapes, Apples (solid, not sliced... and only a few bites... same with Pears)


He USED TO EAT... but doesn't anymore Strawberries,Melon,Cheese,
Yogurt,Ice Cream,Bananas,Grilled cheese sandwiches...

He also drinks 2% milk (and Juice infrequently when allowed)

What do I do?  He's not overly thin... and some suggest I wait until he's 3 and the "BAR" goes higher... but it's so hard...
He can't be bribed to eat... he won't even try things once. He often asks for things (like corn... which he BEGGED for the other day..) but the minute he sees them, or puts a spoon in them, or puts them to his mouth, it's over...

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your best guidance will likely come from your son's pediatrician. Almost always, 'Mother Nature' takes care of these things. That it, even with his limited range of preferred foods, your son will likely obtain the nutrition he requires. If he is developing normally, you really don't have to worry. You can, of course, avoid certain 'junk food' items; simply don't bring them into your house. Serve regular meals and don't go out of your way to cater to him, except to be sure to have avaialble at meals one of his preferred things. Even if he gets a bit hungry, that's OK. If he's hungry, he will eat. Relative to the possible OT issue you mentioned, do follow up with that. If you haven't already done so, arrange an OT evaluation and see what they recommend.

[RockRose]

I wouldn't fight this if I were you.  Nobody wants to eat things that are disgusting to have in their mouths.

Can you try giving him Ensure?  

I bet he'd eat boiled spaghetti noodles with just plain butter on them - I've never known a kid with sensory defensiveness who wouldn't eat those.  

Why isn't he allowed to have juice?  There are some REALLY nice juices with lots of great natural stuff in them that would give him a lot of nutrients and calories,  like Naked juices.  They're expensive but it sounds like he isn't getting much variety at all as it is.

Do you have a Whole Foods grocery store?  They have fruit roll ups that are actual real fruit,  not just that rubber sugar stuff.  

Best wishes.    I have a nephew and two friends who have sensory defensiveness (all boys,  interestingly,  and now all teenagers) who are healthy,  energetic and strapping big boys.  They all three had diets at least as limited as your son's -

[EmaofThree]

Nope... no noodles or spaghetti...He won't TOUCH them....

I limit Juice due to the Sugar (real..not added....just natural in the fruit)... although he gets fortified OJ or Apple Juice in addition to Milk....

Yep.... I do get some stuff at a Natural Food store... but he is still SOOOOOOOO Picky...way more than seems normal for a kid his age....

[peekawho]

Pizza is not at all a bad thing.  You can add microscopically small amts of veggies under all that cheese  Good luck, sounds frustrating.  

[babyprayers]

My daughter was the same way at that age, as long as he is not falling below the normal percentile, I wouldnt worry too much., He will eat when he is hungry, but. dont always let him win, and dont always say no either.,give in sometimes and sometimes dont give in, good luck to you