Resistant Eaters Awareness, Day 2
For those of you reading about Resistant Eaters this week, we are on Day 2 of our awareness challenge! I know, I know... some of you are thinking, "BORING." This is sort of your get-out-of-reading-Amber's-blog-free card. That's right; this week is your chance to play that card if you'd like. For the rest of you.......
I want to tell you a little more about resistant eaters so that you can better understand Keegan or others:
1) While a picky eater will not starve themselves (ie: they eventually give in when they are hungry enough to try a new food), resistant eaters might. Keegan is very strong willed and has gone up to 2 1/2 days without eating because he was unwilling to eat what was offered (at that point I gave in and fed him what he wanted).
2) They are very aware of the imperfections of food, even their favorites. If the cookies is broken or there is a dark spot on the apple slice, forget them eating it. Keegan is also very picky about the package the food came out of (and requests to see it). I often repackage food to make sure it's a box or wrapper he likes.
3) They often eliminate entire food groups.
4) Isolation: There are often behavioral issues that result in their food issues, causing isolation for both the child and parent. For Keegan, if he goes without food he becomes very whiny and then goes into tantrum-mode. Parents, including myself, "often stop making social plans in hopes of avoiding these awkward situations. They also express fear in leaving their child in a situation where food may be offered" that could cause issues.
For example, Keegan went to a birthday party a few months ago. Pizza was served for lunch (a food Keegan won't eat). He complained through lunch about how hungry he was. Then the whining started. I knew the tantrums would be next. If I gave in and gave him something he liked to eat, it would have taught him that he doesn't need to try new foods because we'll just give him something else. If we tell him "pizza or nothing" then we deal with the consequences of his behavior. I knew cake was being served next (another food he won't eat) and his behavior was worsening due to his hunger. We left the party before lunch was over.
5) They show an actual FEAR of food. Keegan is doing much better with this. He is able to mostly accept if a new food is just sitting on his plate now (he'll question it or complain about it, but there isn't a big tantrum). He's also touching more foods with his hands. Yesterday we played with black beans. He wouldn't touch them during the first couple of exposures. But, by dinner I got him to touch 5 beans and place them on a spoon. By the 5th one, he was in sensory overload and could not touch anymore.
6) There were also 'signs' or red flags when he was a baby that we just never connected until more recently. For example, as a baby he never put things (like toys) into his mouth. Now that I have a 2nd child who is 'normal', I know that all babies put anything and everything into their mouths. Keegan never did. In fact, when he started eating food with his hands for the first time (Gerber puffs)- he did not have the coordination to get them into his mouth. Also, he had reflux which we did not medicate. One therapist told us that she sees tons of reflux kids. They learn a negative association with food (ie: "When I eat, it hurts."). Also, he speech was always slightly behind. It was never so behind that he needed therapy, but he was borderline. This is common in resistant eaters. Another connection was that he never liked being held as a baby. I see how this would have related to the sensory issues that tie in. He also doesn't like baths or to have water touch his face.... also a sensory clue. As for food, he never wanted what I was eating. He never opened his mouth willingly for spoons either. There were certainly more clues but these come to mind. If you have a baby with some of these signs, you'll want to mention them to your pediatrician. I wish that I had recognized them as 'not normal' at the time.
I want to tell you a little more about resistant eaters so that you can better understand Keegan or others:
1) While a picky eater will not starve themselves (ie: they eventually give in when they are hungry enough to try a new food), resistant eaters might. Keegan is very strong willed and has gone up to 2 1/2 days without eating because he was unwilling to eat what was offered (at that point I gave in and fed him what he wanted).
2) They are very aware of the imperfections of food, even their favorites. If the cookies is broken or there is a dark spot on the apple slice, forget them eating it. Keegan is also very picky about the package the food came out of (and requests to see it). I often repackage food to make sure it's a box or wrapper he likes.
3) They often eliminate entire food groups.
4) Isolation: There are often behavioral issues that result in their food issues, causing isolation for both the child and parent. For Keegan, if he goes without food he becomes very whiny and then goes into tantrum-mode. Parents, including myself, "often stop making social plans in hopes of avoiding these awkward situations. They also express fear in leaving their child in a situation where food may be offered" that could cause issues.
For example, Keegan went to a birthday party a few months ago. Pizza was served for lunch (a food Keegan won't eat). He complained through lunch about how hungry he was. Then the whining started. I knew the tantrums would be next. If I gave in and gave him something he liked to eat, it would have taught him that he doesn't need to try new foods because we'll just give him something else. If we tell him "pizza or nothing" then we deal with the consequences of his behavior. I knew cake was being served next (another food he won't eat) and his behavior was worsening due to his hunger. We left the party before lunch was over.
5) They show an actual FEAR of food. Keegan is doing much better with this. He is able to mostly accept if a new food is just sitting on his plate now (he'll question it or complain about it, but there isn't a big tantrum). He's also touching more foods with his hands. Yesterday we played with black beans. He wouldn't touch them during the first couple of exposures. But, by dinner I got him to touch 5 beans and place them on a spoon. By the 5th one, he was in sensory overload and could not touch anymore.
6) There were also 'signs' or red flags when he was a baby that we just never connected until more recently. For example, as a baby he never put things (like toys) into his mouth. Now that I have a 2nd child who is 'normal', I know that all babies put anything and everything into their mouths. Keegan never did. In fact, when he started eating food with his hands for the first time (Gerber puffs)- he did not have the coordination to get them into his mouth. Also, he had reflux which we did not medicate. One therapist told us that she sees tons of reflux kids. They learn a negative association with food (ie: "When I eat, it hurts."). Also, he speech was always slightly behind. It was never so behind that he needed therapy, but he was borderline. This is common in resistant eaters. Another connection was that he never liked being held as a baby. I see how this would have related to the sensory issues that tie in. He also doesn't like baths or to have water touch his face.... also a sensory clue. As for food, he never wanted what I was eating. He never opened his mouth willingly for spoons either. There were certainly more clues but these come to mind. If you have a baby with some of these signs, you'll want to mention them to your pediatrician. I wish that I had recognized them as 'not normal' at the time.
We continue to work through these things day by day. If I look at the last couple of years as a whole, I can see a lot of overall progress. I praise God for the baby steps that we've taken with him!
I think we'll just do one more day of awareness and then we're back to our normal blogging. Same blog time, same blog channel.
I think we'll just do one more day of awareness and then we're back to our normal blogging. Same blog time, same blog channel.
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