Toddlers Spitting Out Chewed Food

Updated on May 11, 2010
E.S. asks from Newport, TN
4 answers

I have twin girls that are about to turn two. One is VERY picky, the other is not. The picky girl (Victoria) started chewing up things and after they were all masticated and gross she would spit them out. It started at about 13 mo. It eventually stopped although we never could figure out a reason for it. Lately, Brennan, who will try anything has started spitting her food out. This is well after Tori stopped doing it. She will chew a piece of chicken, a cracker or whatever. When she has chewed all the flavor out of it- out it comes. (At least thats what we figure is happening) Sometimes she spits it out so she can have another bite or a drink, but mostly she will just hold it in her mouth until she cant stand it anymore. If we arent right there with something for her to spit it into then it goes on the floor. It's so gross!
We have tried to explain to her that you have to swallow the food for it to help you grow, nurish you, etc. We have even resorted to telling her that, as her fav. show says, "there's a party in her tummy" and that food wants to go too.
If you have ever dealt with this, have an idea on why its happening or have any suggestions, I sure could use some help.
Thanks,
Beth
PS, It's been going on for a month or more, and she is the one who would tell us if she were hurting.(Owwweee, is a word she knows well- she's a climber!)

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter, now four years old, was born with enlarged tonsils (they are huge and coming out next week - woo hoo!). Sometimes when her tonsils are inflamed (she does not necessarily have a sore throat when this happens), she will chew up her food and spit it out. She does this because sometimes it is just too hard to swallow with the tonsils so big and she gags. She has had tonsillits some and has no problem letting me know her throat hurts, but usually, when she is spitting out her food, it is not during a bout of tonsillitis - her tonsils are simply larger than their normal huge state thereby leaving little room for the food to squeeze through.

If this is not the case, I would still second the recommendation of speaking to the doctor. He may be able to say just the right thing to stop it. I have "used" our family doctor for just such things.

Good luck.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Is it possible that she has a sore throat? Maybe there is a sore on her tongue? Maybe swallowing food is painful?

I would mention it to her pediatrician.
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.M.

answers from Joplin on

my son now 4(almost 5)was always a picky eater,he actually started out not even wanting to eat at all,I mean I am saying if you tried to put just a speck of cracker on his tongue he would gag. so,i think I have learned as he has gotten older that he had sensory issues. dealing with textures,taste etc. being sensitive. well,he used to do this(what you were mentioning above)and it drove me crazy:>). I would do everything you mentioned to make it better,it does get better. he stills does the same thing sometimes with oranges or steak. he also would hold his food in his mouth for long periods of time then spit it out,and also putting too much food in his mouth. end of story is,i dont think there is much you can do at this point,it's either related to sensory issues or a phase they go through. to tell you for sure who knows??. i never knew exactly but eventually he got over it and now he eats lots. i think it's just getting their mouth used to food,i guess is a way to describe it.
best of luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Do you think the texture could be reason why? That after it gets to a certain point she doesn't like the texture? My son has an issue with that and he has gotten the point where he can actually make himself throw-up so he doesn't have to swallow it. He doesn't do it most of the time and he is starting to grow out of it, now that he is 3 and a half. I really don't have any suggestions, we just had to force him to swallow the food and tell him how gross it was to spit it out. That he had to try everything on his plate and if he didn't like it he didn't have to eat anymore of it. You didn't really say how old she is now, hope you get this issue resolved.

1 mom found this helpful
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