Help melt downs eating any ideas welcome | Autism PDD

We have dealt w/ food issues, starting first w/ oral motor issues,
dyshpagia, & reflux at 4 mos of age. By 10 mos, she would eat any
babyfood (no faces at all), but the quantity was never enough. It took an
hour to drink 4 oz of formula. Then she started aspirating, all of this led
to reflux surgery & gtube. So, I think some of her feeding issues stem
from that history + gtube. I really wish she never needed the gtube. The
rest are sensory & autism-related. She never seems to get hungry or
thirsty.

We have been in ST/oral motor therapy from 10 mos of age. We see
neuro, nutritionist, GI, psych...some help & progress in last few months.
She eats a few foods regularly, very brand specific. If I don't serve her
chicken nuggets, she won't eat a real meal. When a regular meal is
placed in front of her--MAJOR MELTDOWN.

Work with an ST familiar w/ feeding difficulties...and maybe you will see
some improvements. Also, a nutritionist may give you her daily
requirements & alternatives/suggestions to help. I would also make sure
you rule out reflux and any other oral motor or GI issues that may be
interfering w/ eating. See a pediatric GI doctor. Progress will come, with
some help & good ideas from professionals. I know how frustrating it
is--I never thought a child literally would starve themselves. Hang in
there!!

Why is your dd not getting any services? Have you contacted ECI? They
helped us w/ dd's feeding issues & we saw a nutritionist 2 x a month until
dd turned 3. I miss them!!!! Good luck & keep us posted.Oh...wanted to add (& hopefully no one will get mad at me for suggesting
this!! )....

We let our dd eat in front of the TV--she would eat better, no screaming,
so that's what we did. We slowly eased her to the table. I felt, at least
she was eating. We still are much more flexible w/ our dd than we were
w/ her older sister. She bangs her feet at the table, sometimes plays or
does odd things w/ her food, uses 5 napkins at each meal (compulsively),
sometimes stands or rocks...we are working on all of this. I just can sleep
better at night if she has gotten at least one sorta-decent meal (meaning
chick nuggets...) in her tummy. People have warned I'm creating future
problems...but her therapists were okay w/ it. They all wanted to first &
foremost, let dd know that food was good & fun, not the enemy & not
worth a meltdown. That's how we got to her eating at least a few foods,
and not solely dependent on gtube.

So, my advice, do what you need to do. You may want to try an ABA-style
approach--when she gets to being okay eating. PM me & I can give you
our therapists & nutritionist's ideas. Since you live in MN, I have heard wonderful things about Fraser (in
MPLS). Their website offers a whole range of services and they have a free
resource list for the whole area (at the bottom of the page I will link)
http://
www.fraser.org/our_services/by_need/autism.htm
I think you might need a parent educater/ behavioral consultant to come
to your house and give tips and refer to services. My daughter almost passed out from dehydration at age 3. We ran out of liquids except water, she drinks like a fish. I figured she could wait 3 hrs until I went to the store. I tried giving her ice water and she threw at me or droped it on the ground. She would not drink ice water, grrr. Anyways, she just out grew that last month and she is 6 yrs old. Now she loves ice water, lol.

Ok as you can see I'm new here and read the great stuff you all have to say often.

here goes my 2 year dd is dx pdd-nos this after months of sleeping and eating and meltdowns and me finally going to emergancy room and refusing to leave till I got some help. ( being 36 weeks PG and in tears quite a sight I'm sure)

so here we are with a dx and still no services and the meltdowns are getting worse again she gets stuck doing thing and NOTHING ( and I've everything I can think of candy distraction horse back rides ect) can get her away without a kicking screaming meltdown.

As for eating she is melting down even if you show her food even her favs - the last week the only thig she will eat is stuff I hide in places hoping she finds and thinks it's her ideas. I know she is hungry and just doesn't get it - and I don't know how to help her ( even giving her ricemilk to curb the hunger till she gives in is not working)

How / What kind of Doctor should I look to for help?? dev ped ?

does this sound like anything any of you have been through??

sleeping is better with meds and car rides. But with winter winter coming soon here in MN I hope to find a better (warmer) way to get her to sleep.

Kris in MN

mom to ella pdd-nos 2 yr and emma 4wks old