Toddler won't swallow

[ammaoftwins]

Hi,
I have 3 year old boy/girl twins.  My son is entirely normal.  My daughter has had proectile vomiting since birth that was written off as reflux until 13 months of age.  When I told the pediatrician that she refuses to swallow solids (baby food) at this age, he referred to a GI doc who diagnosed her with eosionophilic esophagitis after an endoscopy.  Since then she has been on a elimination diet and is NOT allergic to milk, nuts, soy and wheat.  We still have to rule out eggs and shellfish.  She is also on Prevacid daily.  In the interim, meal times are a nightmare.  She wants to try new foods, but licks them.  She refuses to chew and swallow her food.  She will stilll go for gerber food if I offer it to her, but will not eat anything that has texture in it.  She has never eaten pancakes, toast, etc.  Even oatmeal has to be runny - she gags on food that is thick.  If I force her to eat anything by distracting her with TV or computer, she ends up throwing it up.  I am so afraid of meal times and can't sleep at nite either as I am afraid she will wake up in the middle of the nite and throw up which she does ALL the time.  Sometimes, food given to her 6 hours earlier will come out undigested.  She wakes up every morning and requests that she does not want milk or food.  I am at my wits end - please advice.  

[ammaoftwins]

Thank you for the advice - will keep trying new things.  She actually ate a grape the other day! Can't tell you how thrilled I was!!!  After that she asks me every time "how do I eat this Mommy?"  And I show her and she tries to imitate me:)  I can dort of see the light at the end of  the tunnel....
Thanks once again.

[Renee Radenberg]

She has been through a lot in her early life. She may need to learn how to chew and swallow food. That would not be a reflection on your parenting. Some children just do not know how to do it and need to be taught. They need to learn how to chew and swallow food properly; it is not really an instinct behavior like sucking. Has she been evaluated on how to chew food? If not, then suggest getting her evaluated, by going to your MD, and start therapy so she can start to eat regular food. The most important thing is to RELAX at meals. If she will not eat a certain food the proper way, do not make a fuss over it. Suggest giving her Pediasure or make milkshakes (milk and ice cream blended) for additional calories (which will give her nutrients she needs) until she is able to chew and swallow. Hoped this helped you.