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How do you deal with a child who is chewing foods for an unreasonably long period of time, and refuses to swallow?
My son is 6.5, and has always been a phenomenal eater--lots of raw fruits and veggies, drinks tons of water, etc. He has always had a couple of "quirks" though, about certain foods. We've always let them go because his overall nutrition has been great. But early last week, he was diagnosed with a recurrence of reflux (from which he suffered as a baby/toddler). Our insurance is horrid, so the only option we had was to sprinkle the contents of an omeprazole capsule on a spoon of applesauce. The reflux has abated, but now he's hung up about chewing/swalling foods, and we think it started with the medicine (because it freaked him out the first time he had to take it, because he wasn't allowed to chew it). He says it doesn't hurt or isn't anything "physical" in his mouth or throat. But now when he eats, he keeps the food in the front of his mouth and cheeks for a long time, sometimes taking minutes to swallow a small bite, other times finally spitting out the food. It's most foods, and even sometimes liquids (so not a texture thing). He just can't *force* himself to swallow. He isn't happy about it, and often looks panicked when he's been chewing for a while, like he can't help himself. It was the worst ever tonight at dinner, when it took him an hour to eat a small plate of food. This is so not like him. We are calling the doc in the morning, but it's likely we won't get a return call until the afternoon, after we will have had to battle through two meals with him. How should we handle it? We tried to ignore it, but we just don't have the time for him to take an hour to eat, especially on school mornings or at school lunch. We don't like punishing him, because it does seem like he can't help himself. But we're at a loss for how to help him. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance--and sorry for the long back story!
Thanks everyone. So far, we've been able to eliminate any physical causes--no strep, irritation, etc. This is not a pain-avoidance thing, and he was doing it with water and smoothies, too, so it's not about textures. We've also been able to work with the doc to get a different, liquid version of his reflux med, which helps alleviate that anxiety-stimulus. Now we're working on the behavior part of it--the bad habit formed by his anxiety of the previous med. He's already shown some improvement, and seems to be aware of the potential consequences/incentive to stop. We talk about it, but don't dwell on it, and we're hopeful that he'll be able to get over it soon. Thanks!!
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Just a thought -- sounds like anxiety (I guess you've figured that out), I would try making smoothies and liquid-y things for him for a while -- so that he stops obsessing over his fear of swallowing. Don't make a big deal about it, just keep away from solids as much as you can for a while without saying much about it.
You can make great smoothies with yogurt, fruit and soy protein powder.
Has he choked recently? Choking can be very scary...it was for me when I was little then as a teenager I seriously choked on a burrito I was eating and still to this day I chew my food A LOT and am sometimes hesitant to swallow in fear of choking? Maybe this is it?
I saw your post and found it interesting. My kids have never done this much but just this week I had terrible pain from Strep throat. Every time I swallowed was like swallowing knives. (apologies to all you sword swallowers out there) I forced myself to drink but it eventually got so bad I would take smaller and smaller sips trying to avoid the pain. At the height of it, I found myself holding it in my mouth and literally couldnt swallow it - it was like my swallow reflex just shut down no matter how much I willed it. I finally did just will it - I pictured how to swallow in my mind and forced myself to do it against the pain.
From that experience, it makes me wonder a couple of things. If your son has reflux bad enough for him to take medication, is his throat irritated? My son takes prevacid too and his throat is often irritated and sore from the reflux. Would putting the prevacid in something thick and cold help him at all? Maybe putting it in some ice cream or a choc shake might help - once things get moving that is.
I say encourage him and dont put any stress on him about this. You might also google search Emotional Freedom Techniques. It really works for these emotional trauma types reactions like I had with my strep throat.
Talk about 'things going down'.. 'easy transitions' and other words that indicate that it's simple, smooth, easy, and natural...
He's been freaked out. Traumatized, frankly. It might be helpful for a week or two to behave 'as if' he's never eaten solid foods of any kind. Give him the child's equivalent of formula --smoothies, milkshakes, diet meal replacements or actually a few glasses of formula.
In fact, being a complete heretic, I would suggest that the simplest answer is to stock *nothing* for him but liquid food as if it's never going to end.
Keep the kinds of (healthy) foods you think are sensible for adults and other 'sensible' people in the world to eat... just don't offer them to him because he's little and you're not. While providing non-stop mush if he wants it. Until he asks for something else (that is food, not junk)...
Oh. And let him be hungry if he's okay with that. Hungry doesn't damage people.
I like part of Peg's answer, sounds like she understands, but you already said you're not punishing him - good job! Let him take a break from eating if it gets too stressful, definitely let him start with liquids, and send him to school with more and a note to please let him sip during class - the distraction of class or perhaps during a movie at home may help him nonchalantly drink something. Don't give him solids until he asks for them. There is a book also called 'healing trauma' that has some good answers too. Meanwhile, try a lot of love, massage (proven to help anorexic people eat again) and personal touch. Perhaps even hold him on your lap while he eats, if it doesn't make him feel you are treating him like a baby. Best of luck, and of course, study up on foods that won't trigger reflux.
