Stratford Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I posted a while back about my very picky eater 4 year old. Briefly, he was a super eater until age 2, when he started eliminating foods from his diet. He ended up with about 5 foods that he would eat (chicken nuggets, plain pasta, bread & butter, chocolate milk, and some potatoes.) Our pediatrician blew me off and wasn't concerned. His growth chart had dropped off significantly and, at one point, he was losing hair. I was quite seriously concerned. At his 4 year old check up, I asked for a referral to our local hospital's pediatric feeding clinic, which they gave me. He had his initial evaluation and has been to three therapy sessions. The evaluation was wonderful. Like super awesome wonderful. It was the first time I've been able to detail all of our eating craziness and have someone understand and offer constructive, useful advice. ("Oh, so he only eats off of blue plates? That's okay!") The take-away message from our evaluation was that picky eating isn't normal, shouldn't be considered normal, and it's something that can be treated. Also, my pediatrician was wrong. I felt hopeful! He's been to three therapy sessions so far; they are scheduled weekly. They've determined it's a sensory issue for him (not an oral-motor issue or anything else) and are working to desensitize him to different foods. (They use the SOS method, if you're curious.) The occupational therapist is awesome and he loves his "food class". It's amazing to see the progress he has made. He has actually eaten green beans, cheese, pretzels, butterscotch pudding....whole bunch of things. The first time he came out to the waiting room to show me how he could eat a bean, I got teary. This week he started "homework" where he has three foods to eat a bite of each day. (This week it's the butterscotch pudding, cheese, and a dorito. Kind of weird, yes.) He's tried at least one of the items each day; yesterday he tried two. He's less fearful of trying new foods. We went out for italian ice the other day, and he tried and finished it. (And yes, I know it's a sweet, and should be easy, but this is the kid that wouldn't eat any sweet other than plain chocolate for nearly two years.) That was a big deal! So that's my update. My mommy-sense feels vindicated and I'm tickled pink that he is trying new foods. Mostly I'm thankful for the feeding clinic and wish that I had known about it sooner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 What a wonderful update!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Awesome update! I'm so glad you're getting answers and help! And yum on butterscotch pudding!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 That is great news. Good for you for trusting your gut and insisting upon help. Your food struggles sounded so familiar. We had to work with ds on his sensory issues so that he could widen his palate. Oh, and my son's issue was a green plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 That's wonderful. So awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 What great news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I am so happy for you. I wish we had something like that here. My younger son would have benefited. He has oral motor issues, which caused problems eating, like biting a HOLE in his tongue :scared: , which has left him very difficult to feed. He just doesn't trust food and it manifests as pickiness. He is 9 now and slooooooowly getting more flexible, but I still stress when we don't eat at home. And he won't eat vegetables except carrots and romaine lettuce. Oh wait, he did accept cucumbers recently so there is that. He can almost eat a salad :001_rolleyes: I hope it continues to get better. Any victory is HUGE and I am proud of your son! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlessedMom Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 So happy to hear that you are getting some answers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Hurray for you both! :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 That's great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Thanks, everyone. It's a big deal for us and I'm kind of really excited. Thanks for letting me share! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retiredHSmom Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Yeah!!! My daughter is in treatment for an eating disorder and her days sound much like your son's. It made me teary to hear that he is doing so well. I rejoice too over silly things like a bite of ice cream. Who knew that I would ever celebrate that my child ate a bite of ice cream! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I'm crying happy tears for you and your little guy. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Yay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Good for you, and great for him! And thank you for sharing -- I had never heard of food therapy before, though we have some small experience with sensory issues here (none of them food-oriented). I have a nephew who is on ADHD meds and has become quite picky in what he will or won't eat. I'll have to ask my SIL if she has heard about food therapy, and see if she wants to look into that as a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 How does SOS work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J'etudie Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Wonderful news, kudos for following your instincts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 That's wonderful news! Feeding therapy seriously saved my sanity and my kids were so much happier once they could eat happily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Yes, please share more about what the SOS system is? I have a son who could benefit from similar therapy to what your son is having...but pretty sure nothing available here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 That is amazing! I have a cousin with serious food issues, and his parents never really pursued therapy. His is now a super bright but super tiny teen. Congratulations for persisting even when your ped didn't see a problem. So glad you found a good clinic. And did all this when your ds is still relatively young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 I definitely think it's something to celebrate! I wish I had thought to get help for my ds when he was young. Now's he just about 18 and lives off a handful of meals. I'm happy to say that my son will at least try new foods, but he has never decided he's liked one well enough to try it again. I can't even get him to eat fruit unless I put it in front of him and tell him to eat it. I'm talking like two strawberries or half an apple. He just has no interest in expanding his palate. So good for you getting help early. You and he will be happier in later years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer-72 Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 SOS feeding therapy is fantastic! My son went through it a few years back. He went from eating only about 15 different foods to eating almost everything I put in front of him. It really was so life changing for our family. So glad it is helping your son. We did have some minor success right away and then a bit of a stall in the middle and then a big breakthrough. I just mention that in case you find something similar happen and find yourself discouraged. Hope things continue to move forward smoothly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 How does SOS work? This is the basic premise, particularly the last paragraph. It's a very hands-on, low-stress, playful approach to "meeting" new foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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