texture and food- 2 year old...help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[saraandthekids]

My 28 month old child will not chew any meat or vegetables or fruit,...she still will only eat them smooth,.....she gags and throws up every time I try, she will however eat cheerios, rice krispies, crackers, toast, cheese, etc, will chew those and eat them no problem. She will eat a banana if its mashed.

The nurse said she has really large tonsils and I wonder if that might be why or do some children just hate texture?

She eats alot of food blended and she eats very healthy food but I just think she should be able to chew it!

Any ideas??

[Ashlee]

Hi and welcome to C'moms!

When my dd was 2 she wouldn't chew meat of any kind. I could get her to eat hard boiled egg and fish though. Have you tried those? Avacado has a smooth texture.. its kind of strong tasting.. but my dd loved it. Thats all I can think of. I wouldn't be highly concerned anyway. If it makes you feel any better my dd started chewing meat when she was about 3 but still wouldnt swallow it. She is 4 in August and just started actually eating it. HTH :D

[justmeNmine]

I was thinking maybe try shredded meats, like chicken, beef, pork. I sometimes slow cook chicken breast or boneless pork and pull it all apart and then cut it up even smaller. Sliced roast beef or turkey from the deli has always been a favorie here too. Could you sneak some meats onto or into things like pizza, sandwiches, etc.? I agree with ashlee about eggs and fish as good protein sources and also peanut butter! If she already likes toast and crackers, maybe you could add some protein on top of those. One of my favorites is mashed up ham or chicken, mixed with a bit of dressing. I have also found that "dipping" (I guess because it is fun)helps some children enjoy meat. I'm not a big fan of ketchup, but there are a lot of healthy dips/dressings that you can buy or make.

[kanaclark]

before trying the shredded meat, decide if your little one will eat spaghetti. If (s)he won't, then I wouldn't try the shredded meat. My neice told me once that shredded beef felt like worms in her mouth. (How a 2 year old knows what worms feel like, I dunno, but okay, LOL)

just a thought

~Kana

[SoapLady]

Welcome to C'Moms!

We've had our share of eating issues with ds starting at 7 months and ending at 25 months. In his case, there was an undiagnosed medical problem. Before finding that out, he was in therapy for 14 months for eating problems. His therapists were fantastic and thought of all kinds of ideas that I never would have considered. My 3 year old nephew also has eating issues--problems with texture like you described. He will gag and vomit if something is an odd texture to him, and he only eats about 5 different foods. He's in therapy as well which has been very helpful to his mom.

I'm not sure whether you are wanting to take that step yet, but in our state it's a free service before age 3. It's fun for the kids because they make it like a game. Just a thought in case you hadn't considered it. I hope you get some relief soon--eating problems can be pretty taxing on Mom!

[saraandthekids]

It doesnt bother me as much as it seems to bother everyone else, I hear all the "whats wrong with her?" "why cant she eat that"

I assume when she gets married we wont be still blending her food................

[Ashlee]

Yep.. as long as shes getting proper nutrition I see no reason to worry! :D