DCG Just Won't Eat

[Heidi]

I would also move her on to a high chair and finger foods. If she eats, fine, if not, that's ok to. Put small amounts in front of her at a time, keep the rest set aside nearby but out of reach.

Could you try and open cup with a teeny bit of formula in it? It may be easier if she sees the liquid coming out.

In a month, you'll want to transition from bottles anyway. That preemie formula probably tastes like kacky poop! :: But, if she's under weight and size, the doc will probably not want her changed over to cow's milk yet, even at a year.

[daycare]

I have a child with severe eathing issues....We have finally come down to what the real problem is and it is mom and dad...

I finally demanded a meeting. I was sick of the screaming and so was the other DCKs. We all dreaded meal times.

I found out that mom and dad would chase DCK around the house feeding him pure crap. He refused to sit in the high chair or table. If he didnt eat the food they tried to give him, they let him eat cookies and candies.

I found out all of this at the meeting. So I told th parents that I needed time to think of a good plan, because something had to change or I could not do it any more. Especially when it not only affected the kids during meal times, but when the kid did not eat of course he was in a horrible mood all day that we all paid for that too.

So I drew up a plan of action that I required the parents to sign. I told them that they needed to stop what they were doing at home NOW. I would give it 30 days and no longer. I told them that I would check back in with them weekly about the progress or if there were problems I would let them know. here is the kicker. In the agreement, I stated that after the first week if DCB is still refusing to eat and causing issues at meal times, that I would call the parents to cme and pick him up. They realized that they created this issue and that I was not going to allow for it to become my problem.

Also, the parents took DCB to the doctors, did all kinds of stuff too....But nothing was wrong with the DCB other than some misguided parenting.

Well I did call the parents to pick up DCB two times a few weeks ago. Magically the next week it stopped. Not completely, but it was 85% better.

[countrymom]

I have a child with severe eathing issues....We have finally come down to what the real problem is and it is mom and dad...

I finally demanded a meeting. I was sick of the screaming and so was the other DCKs. We all dreaded meal times.

I found out that mom and dad would chase DCK around the house feeding him pure crap. He refused to sit in the high chair or table. If he didnt eat the food they tried to give him, they let him eat cookies and candies.

I found out all of this at the meeting. So I told th parents that I needed time to think of a good plan, because something had to change or I could not do it any more. Especially when it not only affected the kids during meal times, but when the kid did not eat of course he was in a horrible mood all day that we all paid for that too.

So I drew up a plan of action that I required the parents to sign. I told them that they needed to stop what they were doing at home NOW. I would give it 30 days and no longer. I told them that I would check back in with them weekly about the progress or if there were problems I would let them know. here is the kicker. In the agreement, I stated that after the first week if DCB is still refusing to eat and causing issues at meal times, that I would call the parents to cme and pick him up. They realized that they created this issue and that I was not going to allow for it to become my problem.

Also, the parents took DCB to the doctors, did all kinds of stuff too....But nothing was wrong with the DCB other than some misguided parenting.

Well I did call the parents to pick up DCB two times a few weeks ago. Magically the next week it stopped. Not completely, but it was 85% better.

so the truth finally came out. I knew it! to be a fly on their wall at dinner time would be so great. But I'm glad its starting to work for you.

[Willow]

She is almost 11 months old but born early so the size of a 6 month old.

How prematurely was she born?

How long did she stay and when did she finally leave the NICU?

What does her growth chart say? What does her growth chart indicate about where she's at?

What does her pediatrician say about how she's doing for her corrected age?

What does her pediatrician say her corrected age actually is?



If at 11 months she's only the size of a 6 month old I would assume she was born extremely prematurely and probably suffered some significant medical issues as a result. She absolutely should NOT be eating solids at this point unless under the advisement of a doctor (to the point that I'd demand a signed doctors note outlining what's ok to start when and how, as well as a dietary statement outlining those specifications if you're on a food program) and no, she shouldn't be expected to be starting or using a sippy cup any time soon. I also wouldn't be switching her formula from preemie to regular without that doctors consent. She likely need need needs those mondo calories and will for the foreseeable future.

If that assumption is incorrect and she was only born say a month or two prematurely I'd push and push hard some medical intervention here. Malformations of her mouth and esophagus could be making eating uncomfortable, painful or even near impossible, her ****/swallow reflex could be compromised and her tongue thrust reflex might still be intact yet for quite some time which would make starting any solids pointless. Could also be something as simple as reflux, or as serious as failure to thrive at play here.


I would not be pushing a premie to eat any dairy (yogurt) this early on unless that was advised by her doc (their GI systems are about the last thing to catch up and many cannot handle digesting dairy until well into toddlerhood). I'd also cut out the vanilla wafers. Sugary cookies for an infant born prematurely and measuring that small is ridiculous. Might be a part of why she can't sit still and even take bottles, the empty calories are filling her up and the sugar is making her fractious. Add to that an immature nervous system and it's no wonder she can't eat for beans.



Do you have early childhood interventionists in your area that you could refer them to in addition to clarifying details with the doctor to help get them on the right track?

[Breezy]

[QUOTE=Willow;232421]How prematurely was she born?

How long did she stay and when did she finally leave the NICU?

What does her growth chart say? What does her growth chart indicate about where she's at?

What does her pediatrician say about how she's doing for her corrected age?

What does her pediatrician say her corrected age actually is?



If at 11 months she's only the size of a 6 month old I would assume she was born extremely prematurely and probably suffered some significant medical issues as a result. She absolutely should NOT be eating solids at this point unless under the advisement of a doctor (to the point that I'd demand a signed doctors note outlining what's ok to start when and how, as well as a dietary statement outlining those specifications if you're on a food program) and no, she shouldn't be expected to be starting or using a sippy cup any time soon. I also wouldn't be switching her formula from preemie to regular without that doctors consent. She likely need need needs those mondo calories and will for the foreseeable future.

If that assumption is incorrect and she was only born say a month or two prematurely I'd push and push hard some medical intervention here. Malformations of her mouth and esophagus could be making eating uncomfortable, painful or even near impossible, her ****/swallow reflex could be compromised and her tongue thrust reflex might still be intact yet for quite some time which would make starting any solids pointless. Could also be something as simple as reflux, or as serious as failure to thrive at play here.


I would not be pushing a premie to eat any dairy (yogurt) this early on unless that was advised by her doc (their GI systems are about the last thing to catch up and many cannot handle digesting dairy until well into toddlerhood). I'd also cut out the vanilla wafers. Sugary cookies for an infant born prematurely and measuring that small is ridiculous. Might be a part of why she can't sit still and even take bottles, the empty calories are filling her up and the sugar is making her fractious. Add to that an immature nervous system and it's no wonder she can't eat for beans.


Do you have early childhood interventionists in your area that you could refer them to in addition to clarifying details with the doctor to help get them on the right track?[/QUOT
E]

I will respond to all this in a little bit when I get to the computer!! Thank you!

[Breezy]

How prematurely was she born?

How long did she stay and when did she finally leave the NICU?

What does her growth chart say? What does her growth chart indicate about where she's at?

What does her pediatrician say about how she's doing for her corrected age?

What does her pediatrician say her corrected age actually is?



If at 11 months she's only the size of a 6 month old I would assume she was born extremely prematurely and probably suffered some significant medical issues as a result. She absolutely should NOT be eating solids at this point unless under the advisement of a doctor (to the point that I'd demand a signed doctors note outlining what's ok to start when and how, as well as a dietary statement outlining those specifications if you're on a food program) and no, she shouldn't be expected to be starting or using a sippy cup any time soon. I also wouldn't be switching her formula from preemie to regular without that doctors consent. She likely need need needs those mondo calories and will for the foreseeable future.

If that assumption is incorrect and she was only born say a month or two prematurely I'd push and push hard some medical intervention here. Malformations of her mouth and esophagus could be making eating uncomfortable, painful or even near impossible, her ****/swallow reflex could be compromised and her tongue thrust reflex might still be intact yet for quite some time which would make starting any solids pointless. Could also be something as simple as reflux, or as serious as failure to thrive at play here.


I would not be pushing a premie to eat any dairy (yogurt) this early on unless that was advised by her doc (their GI systems are about the last thing to catch up and many cannot handle digesting dairy until well into toddlerhood). I'd also cut out the vanilla wafers. Sugary cookies for an infant born prematurely and measuring that small is ridiculous. Might be a part of why she can't sit still and even take bottles, the empty calories are filling her up and the sugar is making her fractious. Add to that an immature nervous system and it's no wonder she can't eat for beans.



Do you have early childhood interventionists in your area that you could refer them to in addition to clarifying details with the doctor to help get them on the right track?

Ok, so DCG was born at 28 weeks- so 12 weeks early.

All I know from her last well baby check is the doctor said she needs to be eating more finger type foods.

Typically, she has yogurt, honey nut cheerios, puffs, goldfish, and vanilla waffers for finger foods that mom brings every day. I have only ever given her the cheerios.

For lunch she has baby food in jars- banana, sweet potato, oatmeal, pumpkin apple, etc.

And then of course her main source of food should be the formula which is preemie forumla. Mom mixes the formula with prunes and cereal a lot in the mornings which I am very hesitant feeding her.

She is in 6 month clothes and most of them are a little large on her even. She can crawl, pull up on things, sit up on her own now. Probably will be walking soon. She has very low muscle tone so she feels very fragile and not like a normal "squishy" kid.

[countrymom]

Ok, so DCG was born at 28 weeks- so 12 weeks early.

All I know from her last well baby check is the doctor said she needs to be eating more finger type foods.

Typically, she has yogurt, honey nut cheerios, puffs, goldfish, and vanilla waffers for finger foods that mom brings every day. I have only ever given her the cheerios.

For lunch she has baby food in jars- banana, sweet potato, oatmeal, pumpkin apple, etc.

And then of course her main source of food should be the formula which is preemie forumla. Mom mixes the formula with prunes and cereal a lot in the mornings which I am very hesitant feeding her.

She is in 6 month clothes and most of them are a little large on her even. She can crawl, pull up on things, sit up on her own now. Probably will be walking soon. She has very low muscle tone so she feels very fragile and not like a normal "squishy" kid.

are mom and dad short or thin. I have a girl like this. She is 16months old and can fit into 12months clothes even some 9 months stuff. She's just small for her age. She eats like a horse, but is so tiny.

[Breezy]

are mom and dad short or thin. I have a girl like this. She is 16months old and can fit into 12months clothes even some 9 months stuff. She's just small for her age. She eats like a horse, but is so tiny.

Mom is pretty tall and probably pushing 350+ pounds. Dad is heavy too and tall

[Countrygal]

Have you tried birth to three program?

How prematurely was she born?

How long did she stay and when did she finally leave the NICU?

What does her growth chart say? What does her growth chart indicate about where she's at?

What does her pediatrician say about how she's doing for her corrected age?

What does her pediatrician say her corrected age actually is?



If at 11 months she's only the size of a 6 month old I would assume she was born extremely prematurely and probably suffered some significant medical issues as a result. She absolutely should NOT be eating solids at this point unless under the advisement of a doctor (to the point that I'd demand a signed doctors note outlining what's ok to start when and how, as well as a dietary statement outlining those specifications if you're on a food program) and no, she shouldn't be expected to be starting or using a sippy cup any time soon. I also wouldn't be switching her formula from preemie to regular without that doctors consent. She likely need need needs those mondo calories and will for the foreseeable future.

If that assumption is incorrect and she was only born say a month or two prematurely I'd push and push hard some medical intervention here. Malformations of her mouth and esophagus could be making eating uncomfortable, painful or even near impossible, her ****/swallow reflex could be compromised and her tongue thrust reflex might still be intact yet for quite some time which would make starting any solids pointless. Could also be something as simple as reflux, or as serious as failure to thrive at play here.


I would not be pushing a premie to eat any dairy (yogurt) this early on unless that was advised by her doc (their GI systems are about the last thing to catch up and many cannot handle digesting dairy until well into toddlerhood). I'd also cut out the vanilla wafers. Sugary cookies for an infant born prematurely and measuring that small is ridiculous. Might be a part of why she can't sit still and even take bottles, the empty calories are filling her up and the sugar is making her fractious. Add to that an immature nervous system and it's no wonder she can't eat for beans.



Do you have early childhood interventionists in your area that you could refer them to in addition to clarifying details with the doctor to help get them on the right track?

This is exactly what I was thinking. I was under the impression a preemie's age is usually calculated from the day they WOULD HAVE BEEN born. If this preemie is, say two or three months early - well...... And they are usually behind even that age. It is a struggle to grow up where you are not supposed to.

Have you contacted your local birth to 3 program - just to ask them a few questions? Then I'd have mom and dad contact them for referral if you think it would help. I'd be willing to bet that most of the problems come from her being a preemie, possibly exacerbated by mom and dad wanting to "protect" her. I have been very favorably impressed (as much as I dislike social services of any kind) with the B-3 program here. I think they could help you AND the parents.