How do we treat sever eating problems

[BonnieP73]

My 20 month old grandson has had feeding problems since full term birth. Had to be bottle fed while sleeping. Had to be totally distracted to eat baby food. Will not eat solids at all. No interest in food from being basically forcefed to stay healthy. Will only put crackers in his mouth but only chews slightly and spits. Have tried so many foods. Now is refusing everything but a little milk in sippy cup. We need exact steps to take to turn this around. The more we try, the more he resists. Have been told he will eat when hungry. Even when his tummy growls, he refuses to eat.

[Renee Radenberg]

Glad to hear you are going to a Feeding Therapist and Nutritionist. Wish you and your child the best.

[BonnieP73]

Thanks for reply. We have already tried the pediasure. Occasionally he will drink it but knows the difference between that and plain milk in the sippy. Appointment on Monday with feeding therapist and nutritionist. They also plan to bring in a behaviorist. Had a little break through this weekend. He took the tiniest bites of crackers and finally got him to eat some yogurt and pudding. We agree he needs to learn how to eat.

[Renee Radenberg]

Suggest giving Pediasure in place of milk at all times in his sippy cup and at meals so he will have additional calories and protein. He may need to learn how to chew and swallow food. Some children just do not know how to do it and need to be taught. They need to learn how to chew and shallow food properly; it is not really an instinct behavior like sucking. Has he been evaluated on how to chew food? If not, then suggest getting him evaluated, by going to your MD, and start therapy so he can start to eat regular food. Hoped this helped you.

[lake18]

i know how you feel my daughter is exactly the same its a battle every day and it consums your life we are under consultants but they really arnt helping us there doesn't seem to be any decent advice or experts to help how do make a child eat even when u can see they are hungry my daughter won't even eat junk food or choc at least then i could say she ate something love to know how you get on
from lake18