Eating Problems: Food Aversion of Picky Eating?

Picky eaters have temper tantrums and eat a select few foods, but will eventually get over it and frequently switch the few foods they will eat. Most importantly, a picky eater will not let themselves starve. If they are hungry enough, they will eat, regardless of whether or not their preferred foods are available. It is for this reason many pediatricians and gastroenterologists will tell parents to let the child go 24 to 48 hours without food and see if the child eats. Why will they suggest this? Healthy children will not let themselves starve. If they get hungry enough, they will eat. If however, you either know the doctor’s plan isn’t going to work or you’ve tried it and seen first hand just how long your child takes to finally break down and eat something (or maybe you broke down and gave them something you knew they would eat because you panicked), your child may have food aversion.

I am not recommending you try the "starve your child" experiment! Instead, think about how picky she is and if there are other issues associated with it. Will she refuse all food outside the home? Does she insist on certain brands of foods? Does she have trouble chewing or swallowing?

It is very important to differentiate between a true feeding disorder and a normal toddler food jag. To determine how severe your child’s eating problem is, ask yourself these questions:

1. Has your child been diagnosed with failure to thrive?

2. If given no other choice and your child has not eaten for 6 hours, wish she eat food she would not normally eat?

3. Does your child gag at the sight or smell of a new food?

4. Do meals take a very long time to complete?

5. Do you dread feeding your child because she is sure to spit, hit, kick or scream sometime during the meal?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, your child may have a feeding disorder and need feeding therapy. The feeding therapist will teach you feeding techniques to help you feed your child and to get your child to accept the food.

Most feeding therapists follow a behavioral feeding therapy approach or pre-chaining approach to help your child overcome her feeding therapist. Although both types of therapy have pros and cons, which type of therapy is chosen should depend on how much you want to push your child as well as your child’s diagnosis, personality and character.

To locate a feeding therapist, visit our feeding therapist directory. Alternatively, if you have a great feeding therapist, ask them to fill out a listing so they can help other parents as well.

Return to Feeding Underweight Children Home from Eating Problems.

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