So DD is 4 and we have struggled with her eating since she started on table food. We are exasperated and need help!! Our pedi suggested seeing an OT for eating therapy when she was about 18 months, but insurance didn't cover it and we couldn't afford to go that route. We thought she'd gradually become a less selective eater, but that's not happening and in fact it's gotten worse!
She is growing "fine", so that's not an issue, but I certainly worry about her overall health and complete nutrition and all other aspects that come along with super picky eating (parental frustration, her frustration, social aspects, etc)..
We've tried many different tactics, philosophies, etc. and none seem to work because 1) it's a control thing for her and she is willfull, willfull, willfull.
2) She truly seems to have aversions, anxiety and weirdness about foods. She'll say things like "that soup is white...I don't want to eat white soup!" or "the oranges smell HOOORIBLE..get them away from me!" (she seriously freaks if her brother is eating an orange or smells like orange) or "NOPE...not trying quiche. It has green stuff and it looks weird and grey." Those are just comments I can recall from the past few days.
Tonight when attempting to do her "one bite taste test" with the quiche, her body was literally tensed up, she looked scared and repulsed. Ultimately she did not try the bite, therefore we chose to deny her request for something else to eat (oatmeal, toast, yogurt) and she went to bed hungry which only sucks for HER and for US when she wakes frequently asking for something to eat. I feel terrible about it but this is probably the 2nd time that we've gone that route because we're just so tired of catering to her refusals to eat dinner, but then want a bedtime snack of her choosing later.
After far too many dinners that go horribly, end with major struggles and both of us nearly in tears, I realize that we need outside help help. The girl eats very few things and I worry that perhaps it's more than just being picky and that we missed-the-boat by not getting an OT's help when she was much younger.
So does she sound like "just a picky/selective eater"? Any thoughts, suggestions, advice? I would certainly appreciate it!
THANKS!
She is growing "fine", so that's not an issue, but I certainly worry about her overall health and complete nutrition and all other aspects that come along with super picky eating (parental frustration, her frustration, social aspects, etc)..
We've tried many different tactics, philosophies, etc. and none seem to work because 1) it's a control thing for her and she is willfull, willfull, willfull.
2) She truly seems to have aversions, anxiety and weirdness about foods. She'll say things like "that soup is white...I don't want to eat white soup!" or "the oranges smell HOOORIBLE..get them away from me!" (she seriously freaks if her brother is eating an orange or smells like orange) or "NOPE...not trying quiche. It has green stuff and it looks weird and grey." Those are just comments I can recall from the past few days.
Tonight when attempting to do her "one bite taste test" with the quiche, her body was literally tensed up, she looked scared and repulsed. Ultimately she did not try the bite, therefore we chose to deny her request for something else to eat (oatmeal, toast, yogurt) and she went to bed hungry which only sucks for HER and for US when she wakes frequently asking for something to eat. I feel terrible about it but this is probably the 2nd time that we've gone that route because we're just so tired of catering to her refusals to eat dinner, but then want a bedtime snack of her choosing later.
After far too many dinners that go horribly, end with major struggles and both of us nearly in tears, I realize that we need outside help help. The girl eats very few things and I worry that perhaps it's more than just being picky and that we missed-the-boat by not getting an OT's help when she was much younger.
So does she sound like "just a picky/selective eater"? Any thoughts, suggestions, advice? I would certainly appreciate it!
THANKS!