We have a problem, and I need some input from all you parents who are part of my cohort.
Ian's new diagnosis, reactive hypoglycemia, carries with it the need to eat every 3 to 4 hours. Ian believes if he doesn't feel hungry, he doesn't need to eat (I wish I had that problem!). Some days, he will go 11 to 12 hours without eating, no matter what I offer him, no matter how much I plead, no matter what I do.
His health, not to mention his stature, is being jeopardized by his unwillingness to consume food until he is darn good and ready. HOW CAN I GET THIS KID TO EAT???
Keep in mind the following:
1) He is allergic to dairy and soy,
2) He is extremely stubborn, and
3) He is a very picky eater.
Any suggestions? Please post your comments below. I am eager to hear what you have to say.
4 comments:
The first thing that comes to mind is determine what motivates Ian and
use it to reinforce his eating.
Reward him when he takes just one bite and then slowly increase your demands, consistently rewarding him for good behavior. This is a well known and often used behavioral strategy- but we have had much success with it.
Are there any supplements/meds that actually increase appetite??
Doesn't Zoloft decrease appetite? I know it does wonders for me since I would like to eat LESS (and it makes me sleep like a baby). Just a thought.
I can't wait to see the responses because we could use the same ideas :)
I wonder if it's a catch-22 where the less he eats, the hypoglycemia makes him feel less like eating. The more he eats, the more he would want to eat?
Anyway, we deal with a lot of the same questions. A common suggestion to us is to make fruit shakes (w/ a few veggies thrown in invisibly). Unfortunately, Grant is limited on sugar intake right now so he can't eat a lot of fruit.
One thing I have noticed lately, is if I don't say anything, he will occasionally eat on his own (e.g., go to the pantry and look for something to snack on). In the evening, when he is completely wacked, he refuses food just to remain in control. Backing off and letting him decide when to eat sometimes works. In a nutshell, this is very much a control issue for him.
Post a Comment