My son won't eat

My 5 year old son has suddenly decided not to eat his food for the past week, he wasn't a huge eater anyway, he also suffers from constipation in which he is on Movicol and lactulose. I am really worried about him because his ribs are showing under his skin and his belly is bloated. I heard you can get paediatric high calorie drinks so I took him to the doctor earler this week and she just referred him to a dietian but that will take weeks! He has had a cough for about four weeks now but that was dimissed as viral. Has anyone had any problems of this as well? Any ideas? I'm at my wits end.

 

Thanks

Parents
  • Hi I had to respond to your message because I obviously have this situation with my own child and this has gone on for a very long time.  My child is under a diatician although they really cannot do much but advise on different types of food and food suppliments.  What the diatician has said recently is that someone who doesn't eat will be lacking in iron and that can lead to them not wanting food at all so getting some kind of iron in them is very important. 

    It is very frustrating but basically having gone through years of my child not eating and going on at him to eat and taking away favourite foods I have realised this doesn't work because of the sensory issues he has you can do this but at the end of the day they have an issue with how food tastes, texture etc.  The advice I was given and I have stuck to this although my husband finds it very difficult is to ask my son once when it is a meal time and give him the options available, if he says I don't want any of that I just want some chocolate then give the chocolate it is a food source and my diatician said that this is better than nothing at all.  If you say no to things like this they are in control and will just not eat because it is easier for them to not have anything and you are the one worrying.  My son became so angry at us asking him over and over about meals he just hated it and I reaslised I wasn't doing any good by going on at him.

    My son also eats at my mums it may only be a few cream crackers or chicken dippers but he does this but she doesn't pressure him and I think he feels more relaxed with her than with us because we are always worrying about him and at one stage going on and on about food, no wonder he didn't want food.

    It is hard to take a step back but over the last 5 weeks my son has lived on dairy milk bars (not lots of these I am talking 2 a day) and pure orange juice which again is a good source of vitamins.  Gradually he has started introducing other foods such as a bit of pasta (there has been no pressure and I think this has helped him in him taking control of his food and he has been the one instigating the pasta and fries) not alot I know but for us this is such a step forward.  My son was so poorly a year ago because he refused to eat for over 2 months and I have really had to have words with my husband to get him to stop going on about food all the time and give him what he wants he is the child with the food issue, we has parents don't understand what they are going through so why should we go on and on at them.

    In your situation I would look at offering something you know he will have even if this is some chocolate, show him you are being supportive and yes you are worried but he needs some support not anger or you taking away the things he likes, he has no control over his sensory pallet.  The diatician told us to keep a food diary which we have done to see how long he goes on a certain food and then a break from food and what foods he changes to.  She also said that by doing some mouth exercises don't know if you can get your son to do this but moving their mouths around can sometimes bring back their sensory awareness.

    I know you are a parent who is worried and trying your best but if he is drinking he may be ok for a while without food, it depends how long this lasts, but you must make sure he drinks lots of fluids and look at iron suppliments which you should get from your GP.  Ask to be referred to a diatician if you haven't been already all these facilities are available but you have to ask and fight for them. 

    Please let us know how you get on and take a step back.

Reply
  • Hi I had to respond to your message because I obviously have this situation with my own child and this has gone on for a very long time.  My child is under a diatician although they really cannot do much but advise on different types of food and food suppliments.  What the diatician has said recently is that someone who doesn't eat will be lacking in iron and that can lead to them not wanting food at all so getting some kind of iron in them is very important. 

    It is very frustrating but basically having gone through years of my child not eating and going on at him to eat and taking away favourite foods I have realised this doesn't work because of the sensory issues he has you can do this but at the end of the day they have an issue with how food tastes, texture etc.  The advice I was given and I have stuck to this although my husband finds it very difficult is to ask my son once when it is a meal time and give him the options available, if he says I don't want any of that I just want some chocolate then give the chocolate it is a food source and my diatician said that this is better than nothing at all.  If you say no to things like this they are in control and will just not eat because it is easier for them to not have anything and you are the one worrying.  My son became so angry at us asking him over and over about meals he just hated it and I reaslised I wasn't doing any good by going on at him.

    My son also eats at my mums it may only be a few cream crackers or chicken dippers but he does this but she doesn't pressure him and I think he feels more relaxed with her than with us because we are always worrying about him and at one stage going on and on about food, no wonder he didn't want food.

    It is hard to take a step back but over the last 5 weeks my son has lived on dairy milk bars (not lots of these I am talking 2 a day) and pure orange juice which again is a good source of vitamins.  Gradually he has started introducing other foods such as a bit of pasta (there has been no pressure and I think this has helped him in him taking control of his food and he has been the one instigating the pasta and fries) not alot I know but for us this is such a step forward.  My son was so poorly a year ago because he refused to eat for over 2 months and I have really had to have words with my husband to get him to stop going on about food all the time and give him what he wants he is the child with the food issue, we has parents don't understand what they are going through so why should we go on and on at them.

    In your situation I would look at offering something you know he will have even if this is some chocolate, show him you are being supportive and yes you are worried but he needs some support not anger or you taking away the things he likes, he has no control over his sensory pallet.  The diatician told us to keep a food diary which we have done to see how long he goes on a certain food and then a break from food and what foods he changes to.  She also said that by doing some mouth exercises don't know if you can get your son to do this but moving their mouths around can sometimes bring back their sensory awareness.

    I know you are a parent who is worried and trying your best but if he is drinking he may be ok for a while without food, it depends how long this lasts, but you must make sure he drinks lots of fluids and look at iron suppliments which you should get from your GP.  Ask to be referred to a diatician if you haven't been already all these facilities are available but you have to ask and fight for them. 

    Please let us know how you get on and take a step back.

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