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My 3 year old son won’t eat!!!

Sydney

Hi all!

my 3 year old son is awaiting a diagnosis but it’s evident that he is more than likely non verbal autistic. I noticed this just after his 1st birthday and I have been fighting ever since to get him the help he needs. It’s so draining, especially as a first time mum and only 25.. but here we are!

I have no friends to talk with about the struggles of every day life and it can honestly be so draining sometimes. I myself am also waiting for my own autism assessment so it’s all a lot to take in for the both of us.

The struggles I’m having at the moment is that in the last 4 months, my little one has gone from eating a large variety of food to nothing.. like no hot meals whatsoever. All he finds comfort in eating is mini cheddars or cheesy biscuits. I’m at my wits end and frankly I don’t know what to do. His GP and health visitor are no help and just keep pushing me from pillar to post with no direct answers to help me. He’s not underweight, but he is now starting to have explosive nappies and being sick during the night likely caused because of his lack of nutritious diet! 

please, any advice would be so greatly appreciated- all I want is for him to eat like he used too.. I had enough worry before but this is just so much to handle!

thank you so much! 
xx

  • Have you tried chopping up something and leaving it on the side and not mentioning it. Just do an activity he enjoys and see if he will go to it. It may be his body hasn't learned hunger signals. I am autistic and 42 and my body is still throwing me mixed signals!!! 

    Please don't think I am an expert as I am not. Maybe try a day where food isn't mentioned at all and you and anyone else you live with just eat when you normally eat and leave him to do something else. It sounds like the whole thing may have starting giving him stress signals as you are worrying about it. If you stop trying for one day coukd it make a difference. 

    Maybe find a social story about how your body tells you it is hungry and why we need to look after it. Look out for non obvious signals- I sometimes get hot , super tired or very angry and confused when I realise I am actually hungry. 

  • in reply to Magnolia1

    Hi! Thank you so much for responding! The nursery that he has just started are actually referring us to portage as we speak, so hopefully will have some luck with them! 
    we’ve tried involving him in the food making process, having fun with our food, sitting with him at mealtimes, taking mouthfuls of food so that he could copy and to let him know that it’s safe and ok to eat.. but no luck. He doesn’t eat anything at nursery either Disappointed

  • Oh bless you. Does the NAS have any support groups near you? Do you have a portage service near you?

    What strategies have you tried with food so far to get him to try and eat something different?