Eating - North Platte,NE

It sounds like he has some sensory issues in his mouth. Has he been evaluated by and occupational and speech therapist? I would make sure he gets and OT/SLP eval so they can treat his sensory issues.

I agree with you, starving him is NOT the answer. AND don't believe it will work. You neet to incorporate multi-sensory learning at the table and as hard as it seems eliminate Pediasure and all sugar products. I would subsitute a homemade fruite smoothies supercharged with flax seed and probiotics.
You should look over this webite: http:www.BabyBites.info. The site has lots of helpful info about picky eating. You son is on the extreme end of picky eating, where it is affecting his health, similar to my grandson, Joshy. At 2 1/2 Joshy ate only 4 or 5 foods. Within a week of changing the food he was offered and including multil-sensory learning at the table, he began to eat whole foods. In a few months, his eating had dramatically transformed.

I will be very happy to talk with you and help you in any way I can. You can contact me through the site.
Blessings, Nonna J.

I agree with Sara. I know my friend's son with Down's has real sensory issues. The gagging sounds like it could be something that some feeding therapy would help with. If that's not an option, try Beckman's Tri-Chew (not XT -- just regular). You can Google it really easily, and then I just order from whoever is cheapest that day. You want the blue or the pink ones. They have helped my kids really progress with their eating and speech issues. I let them chew on them anytime they want, but particularly before meals. It really helps them feel their mouth, which helps with control and cuts down on the gagging. GL! I know a kid who doesn't want to eat is not a fun battle, especially when the crankiness of hunger kicks in. :( Hope you find some good answers.

I'm not familiar with downs syndrome in children, we have an Uncle with it and that is about as close as I can come with advice THAT way.... so I won't offer any. But I will mention that my 8 year old ate really strangely when she was 3, and 4!! She would just push away almost anything we gave her at times and then out of the blue she'd just eat everything she could find. I asked our pediatrician about it and she said that kids generally eat what they NEED when they are little (I thought that was weird!) And that they don't really crave things that their body doesn't need and to not be worried, just give her what she'll eat and let it go at that. I'm not cool with starving anybody's kid either, so keep giving him what he wants until he comes around!! Just a thought, I know that in older cancer patients chemotherapy changes their taste buds A LOT. It is likely that he really is gagging because the food just is nasty to him. (Not a reflection of your cooking though!!!) I have heard that there is a cancer patient's cook book out there.... though I'm not sure how willing any 3 year old would be to any of it!!!

I hope something someone tells you helps really a lot!! What a struggle. Good luck C.!!

You might try a smoothie. I make one everyday for my kids and they love it and I include foods they would never eat. I include 1 banana, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 tbsp of peanut butter, 1 tbsp ground flaxseed, handful of spinach and juice or kefir or yogurt (some liquid) and then blend it.

That way he might like the sweet taste and he sucks versus chews since he won't do that. You might try fresh juicing which tastes great but my really young kids won't drink it most days just my husband and I. We include carrots, apples, leafy greens (usually kale), and whatever else we might have like beets or a pear. If he had chemo for cancer, you might really explore juicing. Good luck.

Personally, I would focus on the nutrients in the foods versus the state liquid or solid. Eventually he'll eat solids.