Desperately need help with 3 year old who drinks only formula and pediasure. Any good therapists?

[Anonymous]

Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry, OP. We have been down a similar road with feeding and it is so horrible sometimes. There is just no joy in eating and it makes family life really, really hard.

I second the recommendation for tube-feeding. It sounds extreme, but it might give the breathing room and peace of mind you need to move forward. There was a recent thread here on ng tubes which was very reassuring and had me thinking that might be a good option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Not the OP but in this situation whole milk is not a good option when the limited access to calories must also provide complete nutrition, which whole milk doesn't provide.

[Anonymous]

My kid went on a hunger strike from around 2-3.5 and barely ate anything. On some days he ate nothing. It was really frustrating. Thank goodness for toddler formula. I'd ditch the bottle and transition him to a soft tip sippy cup. Forget a open cup. As long as he's not sipping it all day and night a sippy is fine. We kept offering 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. We were really consistent with kid friendly food. Slowly he started to eat again. I would not do a feeding tube if formula is keeping him healthy. We stayed on the toddler formula for several years and now he's at a healthy weight. He still eats a small diet but is slowly trying new things. I would not separate the family and keep trying for anther six months before doing something drastic.

[Anonymous]

Wow, OP and PPs.

I complain about my 11 year old who has chewing and swallowing issues and who was exclusively bottle-fed until 2.5, but that's nothing compared to what you guys have gone through.
It brings the tears to my eyes. Good luck to all of your children.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and go to a pediatric GI to rule out any pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Formula is designed to meet all the nutritional needs of a child. OP is smart not to make a switch and I would assume he would not drink milk (which was our situation as well). If OP child drinks enough formula, they will be fine (even if it means a bottle or sippy). They will not starve on formula. Milk does not provide all the vitamins and nutrition a child needs so it is good to supplement a diet, but not to replace food.

Many kids would benefit from staying on formula longer, at least till age 2. Formula is better than ensure and children should only drink so many ensure a day (and cheaper).

[Anonymous]

Georgetown Hospital has a feeding clinic that has had positive reviews in the past. A few years back it took us 3 months to get an appointment for an initial evaluation. When we did it we just called and got on the wait list and had our pediatrician fax the referral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Also not OP but while Pediasure gets routinely trashed on DCUM and put down as filled with sugar and carbohydrates, many underweight children with feeding issues absolutely need sugar and carbohydrates all day long. Pediasure is packed with calories and vitamins and is designed for underweight children with feeding issues. While I agree with "Typical DCUM Mom" that it doesn't belong in a mainstream diet, it is a lifeline for many special needs children. Whole milk won't do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Also not OP but while Pediasure gets routinely trashed on DCUM and put down as filled with sugar and carbohydrates, many underweight children with feeding issues absolutely need sugar and carbohydrates all day long. Pediasure is packed with calories and vitamins and is designed for underweight children with feeding issues. While I agree with "Typical DCUM Mom" that it doesn't belong in a mainstream diet, it is a lifeline for many special needs children. Whole milk won't do.

The alternative is toddler formula. Its much cheaper depending on what you buy. Pedisure has less of a stigma than formula (which is basically the same thing). However, when I called Pedisure they said its fine 1-2 times a day but not for an every day meal replacement (even though some use it for that). (we never used it as my chid liked the toddler formula and eventually he started eating - so OP don't give up hope).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Also not OP but while Pediasure gets routinely trashed on DCUM and put down as filled with sugar and carbohydrates, many underweight children with feeding issues absolutely need sugar and carbohydrates all day long. Pediasure is packed with calories and vitamins and is designed for underweight children with feeding issues. While I agree with "Typical DCUM Mom" that it doesn't belong in a mainstream diet, it is a lifeline for many special needs children. Whole milk won't do.

The alternative is toddler formula. Its much cheaper depending on what you buy. Pedisure has less of a stigma than formula (which is basically the same thing). However, when I called Pedisure they said its fine 1-2 times a day but not for an every day meal replacement (even though some use it for that). (we never used it as my chid liked the toddler formula and eventually he started eating - so OP don't give up hope).

But when your child won't eat a meal, that's what you are left with. It's fine to say something is not meant to be a meal replacement. When a child is not eating meals, it is a meal replacement. And please don't give me "When he's hungry, he'll eat." You have no idea.

[Anonymous]

An acquaintance of mine who used to live in this area but recently moved used the clinic in denver for her child. I think they tried the ones locally, but the one in denver was much better. Pretty sure the child is still working on overcoming this and has been there several times, but I know they found it head and shoulders better than what is in this area.

I have a child with a completely different issue and we also surprisingly have to travel to get the right treatment as well. It is surprising that, in this area (given population size, number of medical schools/hospitals/psychologist training programs etc), that these things are not available, but it is definitely the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't you switch from formula to whole milk at 1? He refused to drink milk?

Also not OP but while Pediasure gets routinely trashed on DCUM and put down as filled with sugar and carbohydrates, many underweight children with feeding issues absolutely need sugar and carbohydrates all day long. Pediasure is packed with calories and vitamins and is designed for underweight children with feeding issues. While I agree with "Typical DCUM Mom" that it doesn't belong in a mainstream diet, it is a lifeline for many special needs children. Whole milk won't do.

The alternative is toddler formula. Its much cheaper depending on what you buy. Pedisure has less of a stigma than formula (which is basically the same thing). However, when I called Pedisure they said its fine 1-2 times a day but not for an every day meal replacement (even though some use it for that). (we never used it as my chid liked the toddler formula and eventually he started eating - so OP don't give up hope).

But when your child won't eat a meal, that's what you are left with. It's fine to say something is not meant to be a meal replacement. When a child is not eating meals, it is a meal replacement. And please don't give me "When he's hungry, he'll eat." You have no idea.

We did toddler formula, no pediasure. Yes I do have an idea of what is is like. You are not the only parent going through it. My kid did not eat for several years. My kid was on toddler formula till about age 5. My kid did eventually eat when he was ready, but I wasn't going to let him starve.

[Anonymous]

Is pediasure better than whole milk with carnation instant breakfast mixed in? Our ped said they are the same and to go with the carnation. This is pretty much the only food intake DC has all day, but will take 24-32oz over the course of the day (has to drink it from a bottle or won't drink it at all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter was close to her third birthday and only eating two flavors of purees and 24 is of formula a day. I had tried everything. I finally got her enrolled in a PPEC daycare center. Google that and see if there is one in your area. Easter Seals may be able to help.

My daughter's issue was strictly behavioral and was control issue. No one knows why. It took putting her in a different environment with a CNA who had experience with feeding issues.

They had her feeding herself three meals a day in a matter of weeks. After four months they got her drinking regularly from a cup so that I could get her off the bottle at home too. It is such a huge relief for our family.

Children's National also has a feeding program but you have to drive them there for every meal for weeks.

Good luck to you, I know how hard this struggle is!!

This is simply not true. My child was in the feeding program for 2 years. We met with the doctor once a month during snack time and talked about the issues and ways to solve them, new strategies. We did not take our child to Children's for 3 meals a day. If we needed to communicate during the month with the doctor because one of the new strategies was not working, I called and she called back.