Extremely Picky Eater
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Anonymous
| My DD is starting nursery in the fall at a private elementary school. You are not allowed to bring home lunches absent documented medical allergies - of DD has none. She only eats 3 or 4 things and refuses to drink milk or water. She has been in 2 different daycares since 18 mo one near job and one near home and both which had similar policies called to say they would make an exception for her after she did not eat and drink there for a week. Any words for her new school? |
Anonymous
| What does she drink? |
Anonymous
| What does she drink? You can let the new school know about her eating issues and see what they say. I am sure they have probably dealt with children with similar issues. Have you spoken to her pediatrician about this? It seems extreme. |
Anonymous
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Call the school. Most places have a back up lunch like soy nut butter and jelly, etc.
Honestly, hunger will encourage your DD to eat or else she will eat a big breakfast and snack when she gets home from school. |
Anonymous
| And you chose this private school without asking about this issue.....why exactly? |
Anonymous
| OP here. I asked all of the schools we looked at. They all said not to worry it is a phase and she will grow out of it. She hasn't. Her ped isn't worry because she consistently is gaining weight and actually at 75% but that is because I make all her food. She only drinks OJ. I just want a smooth transition. |
Anonymous
| I haven't heard of a school that doesn't allow a child to bring their own lunch if they choose, if this is a big issue, why not switch to a school that allows her to bring her own lunch? |
Anonymous
| She may well actually eat in this new environment. How did she ever get OJ anyway? If she'd never had it, this wouldn't be an issue. |
Anonymous
| Picky eater=poor parenting. |
Anonymous
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Does she have other sensory issues? For example, does she like to go to the movies or is it too loud and too much screen? Does she need certain underwear and socks? Certain kinds of shirts and pants? Has hse been tested for eating allergies? SOmetimes picky eaters are allergic to foods and "learn" that they can't trust new foods because it makes them feel ill.
My DS is a a fairly picky eater and has other sensory issues. Mostly it is the textures of food that he doesn't like. He will try anything, but likes ver few things. WHen he was a child we couldn't let him pla with gooey things because he would throw up (finger paint, whipped cream, peanut butter or other butters...) Slowly, very slowly, he got used to some things. For the OJ, you can start to water it down slowly so she gets used to the change over time. Then she will be able to drink water. You can introduce news food very slowly too. The first night it is on the plate and she needs to put it o her lips. The second night she needs to put in her mouth but doen't need to swallow Work up to swallowing just one bite, then a few bites. We have introduced many new foods over many years, DS will try anyting so we didn't have to go threw the first few steps. He has quite a few foods he will eat, but he is still the plain kid- cheeseburger and bun- nothing else, no pulp, pasta and cheese only..... no sauces on veggies he wants them plain..... But he will eat spinach, brocholi, carrots, cukes, but not peppers, tomatoes or corn on the cob. He just started eating potatoes- boiled but not mashed. Strawberries, cantalope, apples, pears, bananas, mango but not honey dew, watermelon, blueberries, raspberries or apricots. No dried fruits or nuts (but he likes cashews in cashew chicken). He likes terriaki chicken and unagi sushi and the miso soup if the greens are removed. Cheese or pepperoni pizza. He likes most dairy and some meats and fish (although always on moderation, the fewer ingredients the better). Even though he doesn't like his pasta with sauce, he does like lasagna- haven't figured out why. So I can get some tomatoes in him that way. He likes my homemade bean soup and fish chowder, but not other soups. We keep trying and he slowly keeps adding things. Good luck! It is a long slog. |
Anonymous
Bingo! Work on this over the summer. Only drinking OJ might as well be only drinking soda, both full of sugar. She will have cavities galore. I had a picky eater and then I realized it as some sort of a game for my kid. DC won't starve herself, she might be stubborn for a few days, even a week but eventually she will eat. Don't fed her special meals or drinks, everyone in the family eats the same thing. Read French kids eat everything, author went through the same issues, might be helpful. |
Anonymous
Except, of course, for when picky eater =/= poor parenting. |
Anonymous
+1. Seriously. My daughter is HIGHLY sensitive to taste, smell and texture. I suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum when I carried DD. Low and behold DD can not stand the taste of any of those (MANY) things I couldn't eat while I was pregnant. It's not all so cut and dry. |
Anonymous
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Would you deny the PPs their opportunity to be smug?
It's all they have in their sad little lives. |
Anonymous
I also had hyperemesis gravidarum, first one I would describe in very similar ways. Second pregnancy with zofran was a lot more normal and second child does not have the aversions. I have wondered if that did have an impact. One thing to think about, food in our case besides being a sensory issue, it is also an anxiety issue. Forcing new food in a new situation is a recipe for disaster. However, I have also found that peers can be a wonderful support for trying new foods and have found that my child will sometimes try new things at school because of peers. Her therapist, basically said don't make it an either/or by saying I know you won't like this food, but instead support trying and provide the backup. |