Picky Toddlers: What is "Normal" and What is Not?

For about the last 20 months you have been an incredibly picky eater. As a fresh one-year old, you were eating pomegranate and beets to mango and all beans.  You loved carrots and potatoes as well as those damn squeeze pouches, which you have coined as "sauce." I will talk more about those sauce pouches later, but for now, back to the real foods.  You have never been a messy eater, not even with your 1st birthday cupcake. You like your napkin close by and clean hands and face.  Now at two-and-a-half - you do not eat any vegetables or fruit, that's right none. You don't eat beans, foods with color, new foods are absolutely out of the question. Foods that once were a staple are now trashed after each meal. You currently eat about ten foods. Yes, only ten. You also become very overwhelmed and anxious with a fight/flight response when too much food or new food is presented. Other scenarios cause unprompted outbursts, landing all the food on the floor and you refusing to eat at least for that meal and often beyond.

So this is all "normal" right - I would often ask friends and family. All of them said yes, totally normal for a two-year old.  Similarly to how you would projectile vomit several feet your first year of life - friends and family also said that was normal, in case you are wondering, it is not.

Then in October 2016 we paid the doctor a visit - just a regular visit and learned that you fell off your weight curve and have not grown in height in a long-time. It was time to take action.  I did my research and found one center that I thought could help. A play-based feeding therapy clinic. I made your appointment - it was a 3-month wait.  Finally, the appointment came, two doctors assessed you while you played, ate and interacted.  The appointment ended and I waited for your assessment.

The report came, confirming my suspicions - your behavior and development with/to/around food was abnormal. I learned that there are 32 stages developmentally to eating. Not so good news is you are at stage two/three/four for all foods except the ten you tolerate. The good news is the doctors think they can help habilitate you with time and a focused effort.

We went for your first appointment in February 2017, you met Alex, you had fun and painted with applesauce. And so our journey begins, with the end in mind.

Playing with Alex at Feeding Therapy

Building rapport with Alex 

The point of this post is, when you think something is not "Normal" with your children, seek help and don't listen to other people just because they have had kids before. They haven't had your kid. Go with your gut.