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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
br: food therapist?
Has anyone heard of this/had experience? Our pedi is recommending that we see one at Blank 
They will be calling us to set up an appointment...
LJ is 25 pounds, it's not like the kid is missing any meals... but he HATES to eat. He won't eat anything except toast, crackers, cheerios, puffs, mum-mums, etc. Trust me, we've tried everything. Fruits and veggies (soft, hard, frozen, mashed, etc), purees, noodles, mashed potatoes. Nothing besides the original things I've listed.
So anyway, wtf. I feel like the worst mother ever.
Re: br: food therapist?
Don't be! you're a great mom!! I've not heard of this.
! And since you just posted, I got more Gerber Coupons in the mail.. Want them?
ETA: I also have some jar food too. If you want that too let me know!
I've heard of it,a nd we considered it for Gretta, but she got better in time. Adam was actually going to have us see some specialist in swallowing, i forget the title. It might be who you are seeing? I know it was supposed to be at Blank.
As someone whose kid has battled food since the day she was born (only bm was ok by her standards), i can feel your pain. I'll say it does get easier, but mostly just b/c you stop worrying as much. G is still a craptastic eater, but at least we have found a few things she'll eat w/o gagging.
Definitely not your fault! If there was anything that could be done about it easily, i'd have to think adam would have done it for our kid. It is just something you kind of have to get through, but meeting w/ a specialist to make sure there isn't anything that can be fixed coudln't hurt.
I don't have any experience with a feeding therapist but I do have experience with an awful eater! I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone! E is extremely picky and always has been. It used to stress me out to no end and I would get so discouraged everytime mealtime rolled around because she would just flat out refuse. She is 2 now and still only has a handful of things that she will eat without a fuss. It is frustrating but I have learned to relax about it and feel better now that she is gaining weight and has moved to the teens on the weight chart percentiles.
Good luck to you if you end up seeing the therapist and just know that you are a GREAT mom!
Molly Jean --
I think you are doing a wonderful job at raising LJ. Hearing something like this does tilt your world, and I wish as moms we didn't have to feel that ugly guilt when there are concerns with our little ones
I'm a mental health therapist, and although I haven't heard of a food therapist, I have referred families to occupational therapy at Blank (not sure if this is the same dept as your referral?). The clients I've referred have primarily had issues with sensory integration and food textures/tastes make it difficult to take in their recommended nutrients. The OTherapist at Blank works with the child and parents in introducing new foods ... having the child touch it first (they have various "exercises") and eventually work up to eating a wider range of foods with various textures. I can't remember LJ's history with food, but you can feel free to message me if you have additional questions. My clients have had positive experiences and most go for 2-4 sessions. Did your pedi say how the food therapist will help LJ?
Take care -- keep us posted.
Vic - ygemail
Thanks ladies. I guess I just always figured it wasn't good to force it, because I didn't want him to then see eating in a negative light. I also just assumed that since he was growing (by leaps and bounds!) he was getting the nutrition he needed from formula.
And now I know I was wrong. That's such a crummy feeling!
Hope2send - that is EXACTLY what my pedi described. Basically allowing Lucas to first touch/play with the different foods, then putting it 'near his mouth but not eating' (if I said that right), and eventually introducing the foods to be consumed. I will most likely be touching base with you again. Thanks for your offer, I really appreciate it.
Thank you again for your support, gals. I'm just trying to soak it all in from his 9 month well visit this morning. I know it's far from the worst thing you could hear, but it's still a lot to process. What a week!
Married 10.11.08
Baby LJ 05.21.10
TheRookieChef.com
We have very close friends whose little one went through both speech and occupational therapy due to poor eating habits. Part of it was an actual lack in the ability to swallow solids and part of it was just simply not wanting to eat. She is still a bit of a picky eater, but therapy helped immensely and she has come so far since they started! They are some of the best parents out there so it obviously wasn't linked to their ability as parents.
I still think that P's refusal to eat and her parents' refusal to acknowledge this and seek help at least in part contributed to the horrific events of this past January. I applaud you for bringing this up with your pediatrician and seeking help.
I think there is a big difference in being a picky eater and having an actual problem with eating and if your pediatrician is concerned enough to send you on then its the best thing you can do. Best of luck and keep your head up!
One of my good friends took her son to a therapist for what sounds like the same thing. Her son would only eat crackers and peanut butter! She had a good experience and he's moved on (he's 3 now). I'm sure you know it, but you're not doing anything wrong! DS1 ate EVERYTHING right away. First time I gave him rice cereal (4months) he grabbed the spoon and kept trying to shove more in his mouth. DS2, on the other hand, acted like I was trying to poison him with rice cereal. He now eats baby food green beans and peaches... Anyways, kids are funny like that and good for you for getting a little extra help!
Okay, now I'm feeling like a terrible mother because I am just counting on Natalie growing out of her picky eating. Maybe she needs to see a therapist for her issues? I guess I will bring it up at her next pedi appointment.
I'm actually surprised they are recommending this when he's only 9 months old. It seems kind of early, but seeing someone really can't hurt. Especially if it saves you from the torture that is dinner time at our house (meaning...if I offer her anything besides her "favorites").
you're a wonderful mom!
i'm also surprised they're worried this early...plenty of babies don't touch solid food until a year (and until at least a year he should be getting most, if not all, of his nutrition from bm/formula anyway). i'm sure you'll have a good experience with the therapist and it'll all work out!
Dont' feel bad, really. I bet your Natalie is just like our Gretta - very, very picky, but w/o any sort of diagnosable problem. We basically give G 1 of 3 things every night, or she doesn't eat. When she was really little we thought she had an actual issue w/ swallowing, which is why we were going to look into it. It turns out she is just super picky about tastes and textures (and temps, I could go on...)
Like lucylea said, there is a difference between pickiness and the type of thigns that need occupational therapists, sometimes it is just hard to know what you are dealing with. If she can eat her "favorites" well, she probably doesn't have an issue.
You can still bring it up to Adam, and he'll probably tell you that it is best to start offering her a meal (not just what she'll eat, but what you are eating too), and when she refuses, take it away, but don't give her anything else. When she is hungry, reoffer the refused meal. She'll eat eventually. Note this is not what happens at our house. It is definitely a case of, "do what I say, not what I do." coming from your pedi.
Amy is who adam recommends to people who have issues, he thinks she is awesome.
MrsT you are not a terrible mom at all! Please don't let my post make you feel that way. Plenty of people battle picky eaters and it doesn't need any form of intervention other than a little tough love (similar to what All-His mentioned).
Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you gals sometimes. Before I posted I was terrified of what people would say about it, thinking it was ridiculous or that I was being a helicopter parent. I love and trust my pedi so very much, but even I was scratching my head after that rec. You all really made me feel so much better. I do think this is the right move. Whether we go once, or five times, it will be a good endeavor.
I know a few said they were surprised by the concern at only 9 months. My pedi felt this way because he said LJ should have the 'basics' mastered by now. His concern was the aversion to anything off a spoon and possibly texture related would cause him to be behind the curve later on. So it would be best to nip it in the bud upfront than deal with the (possibly) more serious health/nutrition repercussions later.
Ahhh, thank you again! :::big sigh of relief:::
Married 10.11.08
Baby LJ 05.21.10
TheRookieChef.com