How can I make my 3 1/2 year old child chew?

Question

He tries to throw up everything that is bigger than 1 mm. He only drinks and eats very mashy things. And banana, milk or bisquit flavours only.

He tries to throw up everything that is bigger than 1 mm. He only drinks and eats very mashy things. And banana, milk or bisquit flavours only.
In the transition period to solid foods, my mother in law was taking care of him for 3 hours a day, and she had been "moving" faster than me with the solids, givig him (and as I understood later from his behavior and "corpus delicti" in one - the last - situation) forcing him to eat food with a texture that he was not yet prepared for. That was last year exactly. He strongly refuses salty food since than, although, previously he loved mashed potatoes with carrots and meat, or tomatoes with puffed rice and broccoly, ordinary rice in many combinations - salty and sweet (though not very dence), even with peaches, greassy meat with mustard... Soon, he cut off all fruits execept for banana and in the end of the september he was refusing all food and decided only to drink milk. In february I succeeded to "recover" banana and avocado...

Answer 1

This is a problem bigger than you can handle alone. Here's a link:

"What can be done for children with oral sensory feeding problems? Often times therapy is helpful. A speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist that is trained in pediatric feeding problems can implement an oral-sensory treatment program to help desensitize the infant and reduce the sensitive gag response to textures. Also, the therapist can assist the parent with activities to transition the child to age-appropriate textures and tastes of food. If the sensory problem is more pronounced or pervasive, an OT with a background in sensory integration (SI, can provide more involved sensory intervention. These therapies may need to be preceded by resolution of medical problems first, especially reflux, before treatment activities can have an effect. Advice to families with children who have sensory-based feeding problems may include to avoid force feeding, maintain a routine mealtime, have at least one preferred food available each meal, and to have the child join the family at mealtime versus eating alone. Popular books on the market that families may find helpful hints for making food interesting and appealing include 'How to get your kid to eat but not too much.' "
http://www.massgeneral.org/pcs/heal_lang_art2.htm

Have you talked to your child's pediatrician? That's where I would start. Of course, once your child begins school, this could be more of a problem if left unaddressed. I think you are doing the right thing by asking questions and seeking help for your child. My advice: go seek the help of the professionals. That's what they're for. Good luck to you both.

Answer 2

Is this a new thing or something that's been going on sice the child started solid foods? If it's new, put her stuff thru the food processor and let him eat mush while he sees you eating real food. (This works well especially if there's older sibs. Monkey see, monkey wanna do.) If it's been going on since forever, you need to enlist the help of a speech therapist for some oral-motor skill teaching.

Answer 3

My 8 year old was the same way til he was about 4 or 5. He had an awful gag reflex that prevented him from swallowing anything that wasn't almost liquid. You may want to check with your peditrician to see if your child has a similar problem.

Answer 4

Make it into a game. Tell him you'll count his chews and see how high he can get...you could even keep track with stickers or something. It'll reinforce counting as well as make chewing a habit...remember...it takes three days to make a habit, so it'll be a pain for 3 days but then he should chew better. :)

Answer 5

If your child is choking because he/she is not choking explain that this will continue to happen if they do not chew. If its just them being stuborn, then i suggest serving softer foods to keep your mind at ease. If they choke once, though, it might scare them from that type of food. Be careful!

Answer 6

Confucius say "cannot make toddler do what toddler not want to do."

Answer 7

well when my child wouldn't eat what i put down on the table i whooped their ***.