My 3 Year Old Refuses to Eat, He Basically Lives off of Pediatric Drink,HELP

just a second recommendation to look into sensory integration disorder.

Also--is it possible he had reflux as a baby and started associating food with pain?

Can you make smoothies for him?
Frozen fruit/veggies, protein mix (we have dairy/soy problems here, so we use hempseed shake mixes), some flax seed oil or other omega-containing oil, and milk?

You could add chocolate to that or vanilla...
(I love it with mixed berries and then a good scoop of cocoa *drool*)

There are a few fruit/veggie concentration mixes too--they might work well, but I haven't tried them.

I wouldn't force the issue at this point. Get some weight on him. keep him healthy.
He isn't doing this to make things difficult for you--I doubt he is feeling really good after not eating for 2 days :(
But hopefully if you get some weight on him, you can find what foods he will eat and slowly expand on the list?

Definetly sounds like sensory issue. Some kids only will eat certain foods with certain textures because of sensory issues: This page has some good suggestions
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html

Question...has your son been tested for sensory disorders? I know that I went through almost the same thing with my 5 y/o son. He ended up with a sensory disorder where he is overly sensitive to certain textures. You can get hiom checked if you go to a speach pathologist for pediatrics. Also, you might want to check with a pediatric gastrointerologist if you haven't gone that route yet.

Good luck.

M.

Hi T.~ I don't know if this service is available in your area. but where I live, the local children's hospital has a feeding clinic. Maybe talk to your pediatrician to see if this is available anywhere in your area? They were very helpful with dealing with multiple issues surrounding my sons difficulties with eating. I hope this helps. L.

Hi T., I am in the same boat kind of. My daughter is just turnign 2. She wont eat anymore either. She never ate that much but its soo bad now. She lives on pediasure these days. She is 2 and weighs 20 lbs 10 oz and is 31 inches long. She is starting to look thin now. In the past 6 months she has only gained 1 lb and didnt grow. She is off the charts now and Im so worried. I cant take it anymore worryign abotu her not eating. When she does eat its fruits and veggies only, and some strign cheese, and she loves water, that I cant even afford to give her anymore cause they are empty calories!

If your son's doctor does not see a problem with this...it may be time to find a new doctor. My son was having similar problems but with the help of my doctor (Dr. Merlis, Deer Park, NY), we were able to keep his calories up with whole milk (choc and strawberry) and pedisure during his "hunger strike" days. Both my doctor and my sister in law (a speech pathologist) offered wonderful and interesting ways to encourage eating, even just sampling of foods. It sounds like you need a professional to really give you specific direction to help your son. If your doctor can't do it, another one can. Good Luck

T.-
My kids are a pain in the butt, but they do eat - the only thing i was going to suggest is, get him involved. Maybe if he helps make a PB&J sandwich it might taste better or have him stir the carrots (if you put them in a bowl before heating them.) Have him do parts of the meal hands on and maybe it will make him proud of himself and make the food taste better?! My daughter will go in the kitchen and open up the bread and take a piece and eat plain old bread - but since she got it herself it tastes good.... (she is 3 and a month)
Goos luck,
S. B

I can't remember where I read it so unfortunately I cannot back up my claim, but I was told that pediasure takes away appeite in some kids. I had been giving my son a drink a day because I was concerned he was too small for his age and didn't seem to eat enough, then i read this and stopped giving it to him and now though he still eats like a 2 yr old, he does eat and I realized that as long as I give him healthy options he doesn't need the pediasure. I hope this helps some.

I'm so glad that I'm not alone. I too have a 3yr old son that will only drink 2% milk... warmed, never cold. He eats very little and will never try anything new. He had a speech delay and got services. The speech therapist, on closer examination of him, suggested we have him evaluated for occupational therapy. He "just" qualified for services. He is on a sensory based program. They have told me that most children with this have a need to control their enviroment (any part). It's not only with what (he chooses to eat/drink), but his play and clothes he wears. Certain textures of clothes, toys, food... he just won't touch and when I push it he has an absolute meltdown. He's over 2 so he's past the early intervention group,but do talk to someone in your school district to see about having a evalution done... worst thing they could say is that he doesn't need services, but they might have another idea for you to try.

T.,
Does your son have any developmental disabilities other than the eating disorder? I am a certified behaviorist and have written many a food plan in my career. Your son needs professional feeding services in my opinion. What does your pediatrician say about the feeding issues. Depending on where you are there are several really good facilities that deal with feeding issues in children. If you send me more information I can place you in contact with some of these facilities.

Some kids don't lile the texture of protein. Will he eat grilled cheese or peanut butter. Or you could even give him cheese for a snack. Soy products are high in protein too. You may want to look up online about a vegatarian diet. You need to look for other forms of protein (which builds muscle) for him to eat. My son basically lives on peanut butter.

HI,

I have to say..I have the same problem with my 3 1/2 year old. He would live on beverages if I let him. He'd eat snacks, but nothing else. He will sit at the table and do everything but eat. And of course the whole time my blood pressure is going crazy because he simply doesn't listen when you tell him he has to eat. His doctor said put food on the table that he would otherwise eat and then leave him alone. It does actually work sometimes, but I have such a hard time just not saying anything. he will eat after a couple of days, but it's hard to wait that long. he only weighs 30 pounds and is 38 inches tall. he is a skinny minny. My 7 month old has bigger upper arms.
So I guess my advice is to maybe put some food that he would like (good for him) and see what he does without you getting yourself worked up yelling at him to eat. If he doesn't then just tell him that he can't have anything but water. (i usually put one cup of milk with the meal and if he eats nothing and drinks the milk, then he can only have water after that)