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My DS is 2.5 years old.<br><br>
I am having problems and need help.<br>
1) My DS is a VERY picky eater<br>
2) My DS has multiple severe food allergies<br>
3) Because of #2 I am afraid to try new foods for him<br>
4) I have never been big on cooking but now everything he eats needs to be made from scratch and I am failing, FAILING, at making him foods<br><br><br>
So, my DS is a very picky eater. I have read many old threads here about picky eaters and they'll say their child is a picky eater and only eats this and then rattle off like 20-30 foods. My DS will only eat four (four!!). His gluten-free chicken nuggets, pears, bananas, and eggs. He will eat cheese and yogurt but we've pulled those for asthma issues.<br><br>
So yeah. His diet is not good. HOWEVER, what is saving him right now is the fact that he still nurses A LOT. Like every 2-3 hours during the day and 3-6 times at night. He looks healthy. He's growing. And our Ped says we're okay so far since he is still getting lots of vit and minerals through my breastmilk. We also supplement with Vit D, Magnesium, Vit C and Cod Liver Oil.<br><br>
BUT I know this cannot go on forever and I assume in the next 6 months he'll have to start ebbing off on the nursing and start eating a more varied diet.<br><br>
But how do I get him there when he refuses all but his 4 foods?<br><br>
Adding to all this is the fact that he is gluten-intolerant (probable celiac) and anaphylactic to peanuts and sesame. Sesame is the nightmare one. There are no safe foods out there except for things made from scratch. Okay, some will say I can call companies and make sure stuff is safe. Which is what I did with his chicken nuggets. But I am nervous about them anyway because manufacturing processes can change anytime. Something that I am told is safe today may not be next week and no one has to inform me. So I either call weekly or I just make food from scratch. That is what I have determined. If anyone can convince me otherwise please do. Am I overreacting?<br><br>
On top of this, I am scared to feed him new foods. What else could he be allergic too? I am even scared everytime I give him eggs. He's never had a reaction to eggs and yet I read all over the place how allergies can start at anytime so I feed him eggs, look at the clock and feel nervous until at least 2 hours have passed. I feel this way every single time. I push through it. But it sucks. Our allergist just tested him for tree nuts and supposedly he is negative to all. She wants us to start feeding him nuts. I am scared. I read so many places that tree nuts are a bad idea for peanut allergic kids because of cross contamination. Also, I have read many stories of kids who tested negative then became positive after eating nuts. Our allergist said, "Well, you have an EpiPen." Really? Okay, THAT does not make me feel any better.<br><br>
I have started offering him food from my dinner plate but he refuses every time and asks for his chicken nuggets. I have such mixed feelings each time. I am sad he won't try something new and relieved I do not have to wait and see if he has a reaction.<br><br>
Finally, I am not a fan of cooking. I never have been. I love to eat. Hate to cook. AND my DS is very spirited and a crappy sleeper so I am always sleep deprived and exhausted and cannot imagine how I will even start cooking him food assuming he finally gets interested in it.<br><br>
This cannot go on. Very soon I know he'll start nursing less and then it is going to be HUGE issue.<br><br>
So can anyone help me? Advice? Words of wisdom? A slap across the face?
I am having problems and need help.<br>
1) My DS is a VERY picky eater<br>
2) My DS has multiple severe food allergies<br>
3) Because of #2 I am afraid to try new foods for him<br>
4) I have never been big on cooking but now everything he eats needs to be made from scratch and I am failing, FAILING, at making him foods<br><br><br>
So, my DS is a very picky eater. I have read many old threads here about picky eaters and they'll say their child is a picky eater and only eats this and then rattle off like 20-30 foods. My DS will only eat four (four!!). His gluten-free chicken nuggets, pears, bananas, and eggs. He will eat cheese and yogurt but we've pulled those for asthma issues.<br><br>
So yeah. His diet is not good. HOWEVER, what is saving him right now is the fact that he still nurses A LOT. Like every 2-3 hours during the day and 3-6 times at night. He looks healthy. He's growing. And our Ped says we're okay so far since he is still getting lots of vit and minerals through my breastmilk. We also supplement with Vit D, Magnesium, Vit C and Cod Liver Oil.<br><br>
BUT I know this cannot go on forever and I assume in the next 6 months he'll have to start ebbing off on the nursing and start eating a more varied diet.<br><br>
But how do I get him there when he refuses all but his 4 foods?<br><br>
Adding to all this is the fact that he is gluten-intolerant (probable celiac) and anaphylactic to peanuts and sesame. Sesame is the nightmare one. There are no safe foods out there except for things made from scratch. Okay, some will say I can call companies and make sure stuff is safe. Which is what I did with his chicken nuggets. But I am nervous about them anyway because manufacturing processes can change anytime. Something that I am told is safe today may not be next week and no one has to inform me. So I either call weekly or I just make food from scratch. That is what I have determined. If anyone can convince me otherwise please do. Am I overreacting?<br><br>
On top of this, I am scared to feed him new foods. What else could he be allergic too? I am even scared everytime I give him eggs. He's never had a reaction to eggs and yet I read all over the place how allergies can start at anytime so I feed him eggs, look at the clock and feel nervous until at least 2 hours have passed. I feel this way every single time. I push through it. But it sucks. Our allergist just tested him for tree nuts and supposedly he is negative to all. She wants us to start feeding him nuts. I am scared. I read so many places that tree nuts are a bad idea for peanut allergic kids because of cross contamination. Also, I have read many stories of kids who tested negative then became positive after eating nuts. Our allergist said, "Well, you have an EpiPen." Really? Okay, THAT does not make me feel any better.<br><br>
I have started offering him food from my dinner plate but he refuses every time and asks for his chicken nuggets. I have such mixed feelings each time. I am sad he won't try something new and relieved I do not have to wait and see if he has a reaction.<br><br>
Finally, I am not a fan of cooking. I never have been. I love to eat. Hate to cook. AND my DS is very spirited and a crappy sleeper so I am always sleep deprived and exhausted and cannot imagine how I will even start cooking him food assuming he finally gets interested in it.<br><br>
This cannot go on. Very soon I know he'll start nursing less and then it is going to be HUGE issue.<br><br>
So can anyone help me? Advice? Words of wisdom? A slap across the face?