As a parenting consultant, I get lots of questions about picky eaters and mealtime issues. It just so happens to be that May is Better Hearing and Speech awareness month. Since I dedicated the month of May on my blog to healthy eating I thought it would be a good idea to address the issue of picky eating.
Why don’t we ask the experts?
Shery Seewald, founder of NJ STEPS, pediatric speech therapy, is a dual certified speech pathologist and special education teacher.
She kindly agreed to answer a few questions.
Q: How common are feeding problems?
A: Very common. Many children experience some form of “picky eating” however, they can find enough nutritional foods to make good choices and for the most part will become more open minded as they get older. Picky eating can be manifested during particular growth periods when a child wants to show more independence and exert control.
But in some instances picky eating can evolve and become a feeding disorder. Parents should be vigilant and always consult with their pediatrician about their child’s eating habits. A child who is a picky eater can be selective about many aspects of food such as texture, variety, brand, smell, presentation etc. But over time, with some intervention they will eventually gain sufficient nutrition and maintain proper growth and development.
The prevalence rate of feeding disorders ranges from 25% to 35% in children who develop normally and 40% to 60% in children with developmental disabilities. Feeding difficulties can be viewed on a spectrum from the most common form, the picky eater, to the more severe form, a feeding disorder.
Q: How does a parent know if her child is a picky eater or has feeding issues?
A: Well, there are signs for feeding disorders that parents can look for:
- Does your child turn his head when the food comes? A picky eater will still be curious about food but a child with feeding issues may have gag reflex or other physical responses.
- A child who has weak oral muscles (low tone) or sensory aversions might pocket the food, keeping food in their mouth for prolonged periods of time, indicative of a feeding disorder.
- Gag reflex
- Does your child use front teeth for eating or back teeth?
- Do mealtimes take longer than 30 minutes?
- Does your child prefer drinking his meals?
- Refusal of certain foods or extreme selectivity can be a sign of sensory issues.
- Do you use a lot of distraction to get your child to eat his meals? This can be indicative of a very picky eater.
- Do you have to trick your child by hiding the foods? Another indication of picky eating.
- Does your child have enough/too much saliva? Can be a sign of low tone.
- Does your child overstuff? A child has to learn how to self-monitor his bites. This can be indicative of feeding issues/sensory disorder.
Q: What can parents do at home?
A: Make meal times positive and pleasurable. Sit with your children as a family as frequently as possible. Allow your children to try all the foods that you are serving. I don’t believe in “adult food”. Food is food and should always be offered to your children, as long as they are able to safely chew and swallow. There should be no TV or other distractors (ex: iPad). Don’t isolate your child during meals. No tricking or following a child with food. Provide your children with a variety of flavors, textures, colors, smells, temperatures etc. It takes time. Be patient.
A child who exhibits feeding difficulty can be extremely frustrating and challenging for families. Mealtimes can be stressful. Consult with your pediatrician. Don't assume problems will subside on their own and best not to diagnose your child without expert advice.
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