2 year old daughter that won't eat table food

by Melissa
(Illinois, USA)

My daughter is 2 years old. She was just diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She falls in the "severe range on the spectrum", however, I am a believer that this dx was too soon and that the doctors are too quick to dx such a serious dx.




My daughter will not eat ANY table food. She will only eat stage 3 baby food and yogurt. We even have a hard time trying to get her to eat the chunky stage 3 because she will gag on it and then it is a huge battle to get her to eat again at all for a while. She likes creamy baby foods and only some of the chunky baby food. I have started putting fish oil into the baby food and also iron. I have also learned of another child that has the same issues as my daughter and they said he has a Hyperactive gag reflex. My speech therapist has recommended the vibrating tooth brush to "wake up" the mouth. Although it was difficult to get anything in her mouth she now is using the tooth brush often. They have also recommended a Nuk brush.

She is slowly getting better at putting solids near her mouth, but she will only lick them so far. But just her putting them to her mouth is a milestone and we are proud! It is hard work but I wouldn't change it for the world. If anyone has any other comments or advice please let me know. I hope this may help other families too.



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Mar 06, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		My son wont eat table food either
by: Anonymous

Wow you just completely described my 19 month old son. He also will only eat baby food (not the chunky kind) yogurt, and applesauce. It's so frustrating. I also see a few signs of autism in him even though he hasn't been diagnosed I feel he might have a mild case of it. I have Early Intervention coming out to evaluate him this month. Is it always mean a child has autism if they don't want to eat textures, or can it be just a sensory issue?
Nov 12, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		My son is 2 and won't eat table foods either
by: Tara

I have the same problem with my 2 year old son. He does exactly what your daughter does and I have had him in therapy once a week since he was about a year old. It is very frustrating, but I have learned not to push too hard. He has a upcoming doctor appt at Children's Hospital. Their feeding therapists are going to evaluate him and do some tests on him. He was born with low muscle tone and I have been told this is part of the problem. It just baffles me that he is not eager to eat food. Most children his age want to eat. Good luck with your daughter!
Oct 26, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		same thing with my son
by: kim

Shane was eating baby food till he was 15 months old, and then just stopped eating.
I got the pediatric book on feeding and swallowing disorders and worked with him, from whatever i thought would apply.
I finally got him to eat a fairly decent amount of food, for him anyway,
But when he started school he started regressing.
He has a dx of aspergers and SPD.

I started taking him to a feeding clinic, he got a little better, but i know now that it will have to be on his own terms no matter what.
Hes 5 and started eating less again
i told him that if he didnt pick a new food to try we would have to start going back to the feeding clinic (which he hated)
You know what he told me?
"oh, they went out of business" LOL
So then i told him"i dont like going either, do you think i want to go there, i hate going there shane!
To which he raised his little fist in the air and replied"
Thats the spirit" LOL LOL

Hes not unhealthy, but hes thin, i give him liquid vitamins and fish oil.
But i read AN ARTICLE BY AN 18 YEAR OLD BOY THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUES, HE SAID NOT TO WORRY, THEY WILL EVENTUALLY START TO EAT DIFFERENT THINGS, HE SAID HE EATS ALOT OF STUFF NOW.
i FELT BETTER AFTER THAT
BUT YOU NEED TO GET AN OT TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS, on how to start to desensitize her
She has oral sensory issues. Thats rough.

I know i still have to hold my son to brush his teeth sometimes
I use the electric tooth brush and run it on the inside of his cheeks and that seems to help some.
Good luck and make sure you get her an eval from an OT or OTR
Good luck, i feel your pain
God bless you and your family!!!!

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