My husband and I are foster parents who had a boy placed with us in May. He is tactiley defensive, and we are seeing all the proper therapists to help him. We could really use some help in the area of eating. He really loves just about any style of beans (legumes), as long as there are no big pieces...they have to be smashed up. Baby food is ridiculously expensive. We do have a mini food processor. Any suggestions on recipes, etc.?
UPDATED INFO: I guess I should clarify a little. He has been diagnosed as having tactile defensiveness. He was not held for the first 6 months of his life, and so didn't have the proper stimulation that he needed. He has issues with having things in or near his mouth. In the past four months since he's been with us, that has GREATLY improved. The therapists that he sees work at a school that is specifically for children with special needs. He goes to school twice a week for 1-1/2 hours each day, where all they do is work with kids who have the same tactile defensiveness.
He doesn't like many textures on his feet. He's gotten a LOT better about having his hands touch different textures.
But as for his mouth...he doesn't chew. He has the proper teeth, but never learned to chew. So this is why we have to be careful about what he eats...mostly soft foods. We do feed him yogurt with banana (or other soft fruits) cut up in it, as well as applesauce and of course beans (refried, Ranch style, baked beans). He is exploring eating animal crackers and goldfish crackers, but still has much difficulty with the chewing. When he first came to us, he would hold any textured item (a piece of cracker, a piece of rice, a soft chunk of carrot) on his tongue forEVER. He would hold his mouth open the entire time, and not know what to do with this food.
I just don't want to keep buying baby food at almost a dollar a jar. I am ready to just make a load of spaghetti and refried beans, and freeze them. :-)
Thanks for the help!!! :-)
A.: My 42 yr. old neighbor just had a baby-- and the woman has everything, except what I bought her: "Cooking for Baby" you can buy it from Williams and Sonoma,(the original producer of the book) but you can also get it on Amazon now, used, for a lot less!
I used to food process just about any veggie I cooked for my child but there were no recipes, I used back then. I think you will love this book. Hope this helps. TJ
Just glancing through, I see you have a bunch of people with great ideas. I'd just say that whatever food you want to give him, try out several ways of making it smaller... and DON'T waste your money on baby food any longer. I have used my blender to puree foods... and here's a hint, if the regular blender jar is not working well, get a glass jar with a top that has the same threads.. most pint or half-pint canning type jars will do the trick. Use that in place of the blender jar. It keeps small amounts of food in touch with the blades better. If you need to use liquid to help blend the food, ending up with watery food, either strain off some of the liquid, or mix a little baby cereal in for a thickener.
I would also use a food chopper and just keep chopping until it's as fine as you think he'll tolerate. Then begin chopping a little coarser as he gets more used to the foods.
Other fruits can be simply spooned out and mashed as well as bananas. Avocado is a good one to try. Ripe peaches, apricots or pears will also spoon out and mash easily. I would just keep on experimenting and introduce one or two new foods each week until he grows out of this. Now, understand I'm not an expert with this particular problem... and have never encountered it in a child. I just am giving ideas that I have used with a beginning eater, and found to work well when they are just beginning to get used to new tastes and textures. I think it should work with your boy just as well, though it may take longer since he has a problem and is older.
A.,
Hello! Does your son's therapy porgram include feeding therapy? Not all therapy includes addressing feeding issues.
Children's hospital in Oakland has a specific feeding therapy clinic and there is a feeding therapist in Fremont, Marjorie Meyer Palmer. These programs give the caregivers specific home treatment programs, food suggestons that are known to treat and not agravate the problem and goals that can help with your specific concerns. Check with your therapists and pediatrician and regional center case worker to see if this specific issue is being addressed.
A.
Have you noticed that he likes foods of certain temperatures? Does he really like (or dislike) hot foods or cold foods? That can be part of the tactiley defensive issue. My son didn't like really cold foods (ever meet a kid who didn't like ice cream?) Metal spoons and forks transmit heat too much for him -- plastic is better.
Also think about the texture of the foods he likes -- it sounds like he likes soft mushy food. Does he eat crunchy foods? You could probably puree just about anything. My son didn't like meat, but would eat meat based gravy over toast. (with small chunks of meat).
Is it hard to brush his teeth? I'm thinking he has a very sensitive mouth.
When you stay that your are seeing all the proper therapists, I'm thinking that means occupational therapists and speech therapists. Tamrayn Kulman in the Campbell area is a really good speech therapist for oral motor issues. (408) 371 - 9750
Hi,
There might be more going on than attachment issues. YOu might want to check out "____@____.com" <____@____.com> which is a list serve group for parents of children with sensory processing disorders.
Good luck!
P.
not sure where u r living, but there's a great program which is paid by Alta Regional Center in rocklin called the Sensory Gym.....it's been SO much help to our twin girls (both w/big sensory issues), likely moreso than the occupational therapy they receive individually and jointly. the prgm is run by OTs and i think it's great! ask your social worker about it! it's held near rocklin high school. hope this helps
Hi A., you mentioned that you are seeing all the proper therapists, I wonder if your foster child has a diagnosis for sensory integration issues. Check with your OT - not all OTs are trained to help with these issues. I would like to suggest a book titled The Out of Sync Child, then another book, same author, The Out of Sync Child has Fun. My son has sensory integration issues - he has seen an awesome OT and now the teachers say they don't see any problems. We are just pleased to have been able to help him. Take care - and thanks for taking care of a foster child - what a blessing you and your family are. :)
You need to refer your child to your County's Regional Center, where he will be assessed and given the right treatment at no cost to you!!!
Love, G.. :0)
http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/
"I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin." ~ Jerry Newport
Dear A.,
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! That you and your husband are providing this baby man child with a chance to become a whole human being. Children are so resilient. With the love, attention and consistent discipline this little fellow will respond and reward your hearts.
When my children were babies I used my blender to make baby food. Whatever we were having is what I used. Neither one of them liked foods with a lot of seasoning, so I would take out a tablespoonful or so of whatever it was, put it in a small blender jar, add a bit of water or milk, blenderize it and that was their food. The young can eat whatever the parents eat. It just has to be in a softer form. Anything with meats in it will need more liquids (can use broth, water, apple juice) and blender time; maybe add teaspoonful or so of pablum to give it a pleasant texture. Taste it yourself. Learn the flavors and textures that appeal to him.
I washed the blender jar, blades and top just like I would any kitchen utensil. No sterilizing,
no special ingredients. Peeled an apple, cut it up a bit, steamed it (microwave) with a bit of water, added just enough brown sugar to soften the tartness, blenderized it. Instant baby
applesauce.
What about little noodles? Can he accept cooked pastas? My kids loved to feed themselves. Their eating area was a disaster. I would cook shells, macaroni, twists; put about 2 tablespoonfuls in a plastic bowl, sprinkle a bit of pizza cheese on it for flavor, and let them pick it up and eat it by themselves.
Give us a report in about 6 months on his progress. It will be enjoyable to watch this little guy develop.
Thank you for doing what you, your husband and your teenage son are doing to give this precious little human being a chance at life.
Much admiration and love to you,
M. W (aka Merylyn)
ps You also requested a method to get rid of fruit flies in another posting. Use 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup of water and 1 tablespoonful of liquid detergent together. Divide this up into some small jars. Set the jars around the house where the baby or any pets won't knock it over and then wait. The fruit flies are attracted to the smell of the vinegar, fly into the jar, and die in the mixture. Toss it and them out at the end of the day and make a fresh batch until you have removed the infestation.
HI A.,
What about fruit smoothies? That might be good for breakfast, you can evn throw in some wheat germ or other healthy things. My girls all love smoothies with yogurt and what ever fruit we have! It might be quick and fun for the mornings! Good luck and bravo to you for extending your family with love.
from C.. Mom of 4 girls
Hi A.,
You will get a lot of support, ideas. As a mother of a child with special needs, please invest in sensory smart tools. Superduper Catalogue. Get OT with Sensory Integration training and especially for school later..In addition to meeting his mouth and feet, he may need total body support that is not yet identified because he is a little guy. You will no doubt be advise to slowly add sour, spicy, bitter foods. To chart reactions. Reintroduce as needed. Same with varying terrains..sand, grass, wet dry..step on those dried beans..try tissue in the toes..massage. Ask about brushing by QUALIFIED therapist so it is done right, same with vibrating tools. My son loved and still loves chewy tubes but did not like chewy foods because he was week in the jaw and tongue muscles. My son was nursed, coslept and held..I tell you this because some of this sensory stuff has no blame, it just is. We are not always the cause, or the cure but therapeutic intervention and support is essential. Support for you too A., write any time. I am sure you have heard of Out of sync child, but there is the supplement, OSC has fun, raising a Sensory Smart Child,
How does your engine run and many websites with tools. Advocate for speech and OT therapy through grade school, even when they try to dismiss. Also, know that noise, crowds, distractions could pose a problem later when demands increase (listening, attending to work..and sometimes avoiders become sensory seekers, getting in people's space, squeezing juice boxes too hard, etc...) regardless always continue to Get outside assessments, leave paper trails and get free advocacy...You have a long road ahead and there will be potholes but these children also elevate you to a higher place. God Bless.
On a side note, I love where you live for many reasons. I went to Monte Vista and if you look up on Hansen Ranch off of Crow Canyon, my grandma was Eleanor Hansen..
First off, A., you rock. Thank you for being a foster mom. There are not enough of you out there. I went through the training and then got pregnant before my first placement, but hope to get back to it when my children are older (I'm a single mom now).
Okay, you're doing everything right. But, has anyone checked him for his chewing/swallowing reflex? He clearly has SI, and you're working that, but sometimes the actual reflex gets overlooked, so if you haven't checked there, do so. This is common in DS and autistic kids, and there are specialists who work with kids without the proper 'tools' to chew, mouth, and swallow food.
Re: the food itself -- yes, make up your own batches! I did this to save money, and to make the food more 'real'. What I also did with both my kids is to simply blenderize whatever we were having for dinner -- so we all ate the same things, which makes the small ones feel like they are part of the family meal. I also made ice cube trays of smooshed up foods and then nuked them to a lukewarn state.
Keep giving him several options to eat -- he is at least interested in different things, so he is engaging. Keep at it, my dear, and a HUGE hug for doing this!!!
J.
You got a lot of great advice regarding the special needs and the options available to you and your little guy.
As for food, I love the website:
www.wholesomebabyfoods.com
They have some great recipes for baby foods that keeps flavors very simple and you can adjust according to your child's phase.
Good luck!
And I don't know if it is an option for your little guy, but my daughter loves quesadillas. I can fill a tortilla with refried black beans and cheese and she thinks it is the greatest meal ever!
I get black refried beans by LaVictoria (I think) from Safeway.
Toddlers and food... they will eat when they need to. I have a kid the same age and she eats so much one day and the next she is living off one cracker... My kid loves rice and I put everything under the moon in the rice (brown). beans, all veggies, cheese and even apples mixed in with some veggies. I top of my toddlers list is when I make apple sauce with blueberries. Go online to get recipes and the back of baby books have great ones too. I still sometimes give baby food(smashed up) meat to my kid she has a hard time chewing it still.
**I have a friend that had a hard time with her kid not eating after going to the dr... found out that her little guy was getting four teeth in at the same time, ouch! that is why he only ate soft foods.
i have a few vegetarian friends so when I host our Thursday night girls night I have to get creative with beans... The Better Homes cookbook has some really great bean based recipies and they are simple enough that you can blend the harder things (bell peppers, onions, celery etc) in the food processor, although I am so not a vegetarian I find these recipies enjoyable enough to eat myself and can sometimes talk my meat loving boys into eating them too.. *L* This last thursday my friend actually brought the dinner and it a was wonderful bean salad, it had red kidney beans, white beans, black beans, and chick peas (garbonzo's) she also added celery, white and green onions and zucchini, she seasoned it with a little red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil, you can make a huge batch and it stays good in the fridge for about a week! Good luck!!!
