He Won't Chew...

[mema]

I have a 20month old who just shovels in his food. He won't chew. I don't think he uses forks or spoons at home. He started here in August and I started giving him a fork or spoon at each meal. At first he would just drop it and use his hands. He would be done with his whole plate in less than 3 min. I then started to just put a few things on his plate and helped him with the fork/spoon hoping that would slow him down. Each bite he took I would say chew and move my mouth. Didn't matter. He still just swallowed. For a few months he was doing good. Didn't use his fingers and wouldn't shovel it in. He wouldn't chew everything, but he slowed down. Now he is back to not chewing his food and shoveling it as fast as he can. I told mom one day that I am trying to get him to slow down, chew and enjoy his food. She laughed and said, yeah he loves to shovel, but he can eat more than me How can I get him to slow down and chew? I'm afraid one day he may swallow something without chewing it and choke. I cut the food super small since he just swallows, but what else can I do?

[Breezy]

I have a 13 month old dcg like this. I tell her slow down, one at a time! Usually she just looks at me and stops eating or cries. But she seems to get it after a while. It is so irritating though because she is done before me or DS and then she whines and cries to get out of the highchair and throws herself around and screams at me.

Sorry I wasnt much help

[mema]

If I tell him slow down, one at a time, he just scowls at me and waits for me to look at someone else and then has at it. After he finishes he cries too, but it's for more. I think he eats adult portions at home

[Breezy]

He probably eats so fast that he doesnt realize he is full!

[daycare123]

I have a 20month old who just shovels in his food. He won't chew. I don't think he uses forks or spoons at home. He started here in August and I started giving him a fork or spoon at each meal. At first he would just drop it and use his hands. He would be done with his whole plate in less than 3 min. I then started to just put a few things on his plate and helped him with the fork/spoon hoping that would slow him down. Each bite he took I would say chew and move my mouth. Didn't matter. He still just swallowed. For a few months he was doing good. Didn't use his fingers and wouldn't shovel it in. He wouldn't chew everything, but he slowed down. Now he is back to not chewing his food and shoveling it as fast as he can. I told mom one day that I am trying to get him to slow down, chew and enjoy his food. She laughed and said, yeah he loves to shovel, but he can eat more than me How can I get him to slow down and chew? I'm afraid one day he may swallow something without chewing it and choke. I cut the food super small since he just swallows, but what else can I do?

I have a boy like this too. He hardly every chews his food, or shoves so much into his mouth that he has to spit it out cause he gags on it. He doesn't use a fork or spoon though, not sure if he does at home. It's frustrating. I had an older girl once 2/1/2 that would absoultly not chew her food no matter what it was. Even after after explaining time after time she needed to chew. It's frustrating, sorry i don't have a solution to it though.

[laundrymom]

I use two plates and only put a few bites on the one in front of shoveler at a time. I slow his supply. he slows his meal.

[MrsB]

I used to have an autistic boy that was this way too. This is how the OT told me and his parents to handle it.

You put one bite on his plate. He HAD to use the fork or spoon to eat it. You continue to say or sign (chew) while you make the chewing motion, like you are doing. Then when he is done. Have him say or sign "more" "please".

Similar to what laundrymom said. It is ALOT of work though.

[daycare]

I use two plates and only put a few bites on the one in front of shoveler at a time. I slow his supply. he slows his meal.

ditto this.... I had a boy who did this too and I just reduced the amount of food that he was given at one sitting.

[nannyde]

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28246&highlight=mitted

[christinaskids]

I would just put tiny portions on his plate for each bite. Choking is the number one accident and thing i am scared of happening to the kids