Toddler doesn't feel hunger

[lrussell]

My 2.5 year old daughter has had an eating issue since I introduced solids to her at 6 months.  Not a single spoon of food successfully stayed in her tummy until she was 17 months old, at which time, she began to eat a slice of cheese over the course of an entire day.  Weeks can pass without her eating a piece of food.  She drinks 18oz of homo milk a day, and only recently I have replaced the homo milk with 2 Pedesures a day.  Her unwillingness to ingest traces back to when she was 2 months old, when even a dose of medicine before her immunization would be thrown up as soon as it entered her mouth.  She is above average in height but weighs 25 pounds which is very low.  I am blessed that through all of this, she is developmentally normal and quite bright.  She knows all the alphabet, the phonetics of most letters, she can count to 13 and knows all the numbers, she talks clearly, loudly and no-stop.  She is normal in every way except so not normal where food is concerned.  What is wrong with my daughter?  Is she afraid of food?  It has been a battle for 2 years - I need help.  

[lrussell]

Hi Wendy,
I'm sorry for such a delay in responding to your post.  I have been off-line for quite a while.  I am sorry to hear of your troubles, as I don't wish any family to go through the same thing we have been dealing with.  It has been a struggle each and every day.  My daughter will be 3 in August and only recently she has begun eating some food.  Thank goodness!   Here is how things have turned around for us...
- I sent her to my parents place for a week.  By day 4, she started to accept some food from them.  We believe it was:
a) she was hungry and somewhat interested in food - ready at her own pace and time
b) because the food was coming from someone other than her frustrated parents AND
c) my parents showed her a super fun and 'what ever you want' vacation for her.  It was a break that she needed from us and from the vibe she must have been feeling at her own home.  
(I have sent her to my parents place in the past year on occasion in hopes that she would change....she always tried to eat in front of them)
- we have begun therapy...for no reason other than trying to understand what she is going through.  I don't think our children are giving us difficulty around food because they choose to do so.  There is something...some fear they have of food...of how it makes them feel, or what memories food in their mouth evokes from when they were tiny babies
The therapists recommendation is to calm down.  Calm down around the house.  Have my husband and I sit for dinner every night and have her watch us.  Eventually, she will want to sit with us, and eventually she will begin to lick, bite or even chew/swallow the food.  The most important part is to bring down the intensity within our household (easier said than done).  
- I have gone to another Ped. for a consult.  I went to my current Ped asking for a referral to another Dr. that came recommended from the Occupation Therapist.  I saw her last week, and this Dr. said she has many parents going through the same thing.  Children like these come around an their own time.  So long as their height is average or above, and their mental development is where it should be....they are surviving on what little they are taking in.   Eventually, they will come around - ususally by age 3.  
I hope this information helps...please keep me posted on how your daughter progresses.  Good luck and hang in there.  Somehow....our girls will overcome this and life can feel simple.  

[Wendy1982]

I was just writing to say that I can totally relate to your daughters adversion to food.  My daughter just turned 2 and I have the same problem as you do.  It pretty much started off at birth with a diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux.  She was put on 15mg of Prevacid a day but still had problems with vomiting.  We have had every test under the sun done on her.  She sees a GI specialist and weekly Speech and Occupational therapy visits.  I also have to supplement with 2 Pediasures every day.  I feel really bad giving her a drink to give her the calories, but the doctors assure me that it is sufficient. My daughter is only 21 pounds and has had a very hard time gaining weight.  Just like you said my daughter is also very smart and intelligent in every other aspect.  It's good to know there is someone out there that I can relate to, I thought I was the only one.  If you ever want to talk just post a comment.

[renny999]

Hi,

At this point nothing is working. Spend the money, invest it into your child's health and go see a nathopathic doctor. They can help you. You will be amazed on how they can help.

[steph76114]

I would have her checked for re-flux.  My 1yr old had it very slightly at 3 months so the ped put him on previcid 15mg 1xday.  We took him off of it at his 1yr check up and he was only off for a month. He started not wanting to eat and throwing up, and I mean "throwingUP" which he had never done.. I have put him back on the previcid and he is wanting to eat again.  And speaking from experience even a slight case of reflux can be very uncomfortable.  

[Renee Radenberg]

From what you stated they will do different behavioral testing. Just try to relax. Your daughter is growing and getting nutrients from the Pedisure. See what the new MD suggests and go along with their suggestions. Best of luck.

[lrussell]

I recently met with her Pediatrician expressing my concerns.  He was very defensive (as he has always been) and explained to me that because her height is well above average and she is developmentally normal, no Doctor would be concerned.  Including himself.  He is certain that her issue is behavioural and not medical.  In which case, there isn't anything he can do.   I requested a referral to another Pediatrician for a consultation on this ongoing issue.  It has been 2 years and he hasn't helped me in any way.   What type of test should this new Dr. be doing?  What kinds of questions should I ask?   We begin play therapy in the coming weeks.  I am desperate to understand what is going on with her, understand why food is the enemy in her eyes...thanks for you time.  

[Renee Radenberg]

It is good that you switched to Pedisure and she accepts that. Has her digestive system been checked by her MD since the eating issue has been going on for 2 years?