HELP!!!! savannah's mom- That is funny what your last post said.  I can just picture this sweet little girl shoveling food in and then all of the sudden telling mom she is the best cook, then going right back to shoveling in food, all the while saying NUM NUM NUM!  Maybe she saw someone on time eat like this, it sounds like something that would be on a sit com with children in it. Allegra- Bless your heart with what you go through at meal time.  I do think you are doing the right thing by restricting what is avialable to her on her plate at any given time.  I'll try to think of other ways to restrict the access without her seeing you have her whole plate of food and fighting you for it.  But best of wishes in the meantime. Sharlet has the same problem with not knowing her mouth is full.  She has a very restricted diet but when she does eat she crams it in and then chokes and spits it out again.  It is almost like it's anxiety driven.  I have to be in controll of her plate and let her take a few things at a time, but this too is a source of anxiety for her and she spends a lot of the time reaching for the plate and protesting/crying.  I dread mealtimes with her, she is so difficult.  My 7 month old baby is just as indipendant at feeding as Sharlet.  I let her use a spoon but she always scoops a spoonful, and then on the way to her mouth she turns the spoon upside down and it falls off and she gets very upset because it makes a mess.  So most of the time I have to put pieces of food into her mouth with my fingers one at a time, while fighting her as she tries to grab the plate and cram in the food To heck with what other people think anyway.  Good for you for not staying at home.  You all deserve to go out and if that's the least you have to worry about when being out, then screw those other people.Wray, I dont know where she gets it from.. your right it does sound like a sit com. she has done it all of her life, and at home it is funny and almost so normal that you hardly notice it. but it can be embarrassing when your at a resturant, and she starts with it and the shoveling food...and people are stareing so hard that you can feel it burning into you, you feel like yelling, "Take a picture it lasts longer". But I am not going to deny myself the ability to go out, and she needs the socialization. She isnt that bad most of the time. We have taken her out since she was a baby. we have just learned not to take her to places that are posh and grown up, but then you wouldnt take a NT kid to those places either. Hi Savannas mum, We have a 13yr old AS son who still puts too much food in his mouth. I'm sure it a sensory thing as he has been diagnosed with lots of other sensory difficulties. He can't seem to sense how much is in his mouth. We are always saying put only that much in at a time. He sometimes has problems sensing when he is full, eating too much at one sitting. He also prefers to eat with his fingers. He finds holding the knife and fork hard, with the fine motor skills needed to do this. Seeing him cut up a piece of steak is interesting. Vette I need some advice...My almost 4 yr old hasnt been diagnoised yet, but..I know that she has tendancies twards aspergers. but the problem isnt that, It is her eating, she is almost 4 but she eats Like a 1 yr old. I cant get her to use a spoon or fork. she will use it when prompted but very quickly goes back to shoveling food in like someone is going to take it away or something. She has no concept of her mouth being full either. She has put a full banana in her mouth at one time, and braking it into peices doesnt help either cause she then just shoves more of them in. Any advice from someone who has been there would be apreciated. If she gets a dx, she could qualify for some OT and the OT might be able to help you address those issues. Actually, you can take her in to a private and have her evaluated and get therapy that way.  Your insurance may or may not cover this service.  And even if she gets the dx, she may not qualify for OT services.  But with children I teach, the OT usually has good techniques and ideas for feeding issues.  This sounds like something sensory.  Maybe you could give her something to do while she eats and encourage her to slow down as she participates in something else while eating.  Whatever you have her do can gradually be faded away so that she doesn't always have to have some activity while eating.  I don't know, just a thought..... Thanks Wray she was getting some Ot and then...we moved state and they said that she didnt have any problems, then we moved back to Illinois and the school district is evaluating her for special ed preschool. Her pediatrican has mentioned aspergers several times, but also has said it could be something else. we have a meeting with the specialists at school on the 12th of Jan, for an Iep. If the school evaluates and does not find that she needs OT. Then go private. If it is purely Sensory Issues in some states like mine insurance will NOT cover just sensory issues. Hope they do where you are. From you statement I believe OT is about the best way to go for this problem. Venus lol, sorry i had to laught, im going through the same thing with my son but im not complaining to much, at least you daughters eating, dont get mad, i just think its kinda funny cause i have a son with a picky mouth, im working with kylo had its kinda working, try yogurt and a spoon, if she throws the spoon down take the yogurt and go wash the spoon, and offer again, she will either give in or give up it may be a long project but it has worked with yogurt, apple sauce, and mac and cheese... but spaggeti is a work in progress, though youll  need to make sure she cant get up(high chair maybe)good luck, hope this helpsyea...I know she has sensory issues...she cant stand flushing toilets...or the trains, and she has done this since she was a baby...she...doesnt appear to have an off switch where eating is concerned either...We affectionatly call her our Hobbit, She will eat breakfast, get up and say I am hungry, and ask for string cheese, she will then say I am still hungry can I have a sandwhich, and told No, she will scream and shout and depending on the day, physically attack... In a day she will have first breakfast, second breakfast, snack, lunch, afternoon snack, supper, bedtime snack...and then will say before she goes to sleep, for breakfast can I HAVE... Thankfully she, isnt over weight, she is very tall and very slim for her size... she is 3.9...4 in March, and she weighs 40 pounds but is almost 38 inches at last mesure. she wears a size 5/6...cause she is all legs.We have tryed that...Roxanne, she just doesnt get it...she gets really excited, when she sees the spoon, and will use it if we prompt her to, SOMETIMES, But I think she Likes the feel of the food to be honest... She has always Loved her food...she makes a noise when she is eatting it...LIKE NUM NUM NUM....as she is shoving it in....I know many of you have non verbal kids...and I dont mean disrespect...but you have to laugh at her...she looks up and says YOur the best cooker... and then goes back to shoveling...My sister has said she is going to be the kid who steals everyone elses lunch.
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