My 28month old refuses to eat solid foods.?

Question

He eats puree, mashed up vegetables with potatoes, sometimes rice, slices of bread and biscuits. As soon as there is something where he has to use his teeth, he refuses to eat it, or spits it out.

We've tried encouraging him, giving him less on his plate, making it look pretty, but it doesn't work. Today, we gave him potatoes and carrots cooked, and cut into chips. It took him half an hour to eat THREE potatoes, which were about the size of his finger, and the last, he kept it in his mouth and didn't want to swallow....even when he had left the table he was walking around with it in his mouth.

He is also a very late speaker -40 word vocabulary and no associations between the words. He seems to have a problem pronouncing words where you move your tongue a lot, so I wonder if that has anything to do with his refusal to eat. Also... he has not yet got his last molars.

Anyone had the same problem? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Thanks for the responses so far, I have already spoken to a paediatrician who has referred for check ups for his ears nose and throat, but as I am waiting for him to get over chicken pox before going, I was wondering if there is anyone who has experienced the same thing. I live in France, and have no family over here, or friends who have children, so I'm quite isolated and would just like some advice.

I say 28 months old for accuracy, rather than thinking he is a baby ;)

Answer 1

My son had similar problems with eating and speech. The best person I could find to speak to was in fact my health visitor who was absolutely fabulous, althoug these are really hard to find, good ones I mean.

There were reasons for his behaviour which were remedied. I won't go into detail because I think it is important you go into this with a fresh open mind rather than assuming that he may have a deeper problem.

Try encouragement and rewards, maybe a new set of bath toys, a new car, a nice morning at the swings etc. These will determine if he is just a wee bit on the lazy side. Little ones will do absolutely anything for a reward as a rule.

Don't nag him for not eating but over praise him when he takes a mouthful etc.

Don't let friends and relatives spoil him with sweets. All the time he gets tit bits he won't be interested in real food.

Please do consult with the health visitor and you GP. Hopefully working together with them will help you find a resolve.

Hope you get to the bottom of this.x

Answer 2

You need to have him checked for learning disabilities, and have hearing checked. If he is not starting to string words together in sentences by now he might have some learning issues, so he might be more along the lines of 11-12 months in development. Best to go to the doctor.

Answer 3

I always worry when people ask questions of concern about their children here. I'm sorry I don't know the answer, but I can assure you, whatever peoples experiences are, yours will be different. Any query regarding your children should be posed to your health visitor or doctor, these things can only be sorted through a proper assessment.

Answer 4

No offence but he is almost 2 and a half...to describe him as 28 months old makes him sound like a baby and he's not. Stop giving him puree...he's a toddler now, give him his meals and nothing inbetween and he will eventually eat them. DONT hang over him fretting while he plays with the food...he is probably thriving on your concern....they love attention of any kind. Put the food down and then remove it when he's had twenty minutes or so....dont ffer anything till next meal time...he will eat when he is hungry.

Answer 5

I would ask the doctor, but maybe it hurts his teeth when he eats solids.