Major Feeding Issues

[Jayyym]

My 21 month old son was recently diagnosed with SPD & is going to be getting
tested for Autism in April. We have his IFSP meeting this Thursday to get his
services set up. (Speech, OT & SI) But, until then i need help. Something.
My son has always had feeding issues. When he was on stage 2 baby foods and we
tried to switch him to stage 3 because of the texture he would gag, same with
the baby food meats.
In the beginning of his self feeding he would eat Pasta, steamed veggies, Fruit,
Hot dogs..Everything but meats. Unless it was chicken nuggets.
As of late he went from eating Chicken Nuggets, French Fries & Sweet Potato
fries, fruit, pancakes, french toast etc to eating only fruit, goldfish, &
drinkable yogurts.
I'm trying everything just to keep his nutrition up. We are giving him gummy
vitamins & giving him carnation instant breakfast twice a day. He's refusing
everything he use too. He is having more tantrums when i put things on his tray
that he does not recognize or even use to recognize. He's flinging himself back
into the chair, constantly hitting his head. Trips to the grocery store are
agonizing with him screaming & crying, not wanting to be in the cart, if you
take him out he throws himself on the floor and runs away. The lights, people
and noise is just SO overwhelming for him.
I'm so incredibly frustrated. I don't know what to do. My husband is so
supportive and keeps promising me this will eventually get better. My MIL is
convinced it's an I'm 2 year old stage (whom we live with.)
He's still on the bottle. We bought new sippy cups and have tried transitioning
a few times but, everytime he gets so angry and throws them, hits me, and bites
me.
I just need some advice. Something. I don't know anymore.
Thank you all!

[sayres]

((hugs)) I think many of us have been through some or all of what you are discussing. A great book on SPD is The Out-of-Synch Child. It won't make this easier but it will help to understand it. I wouldn't make yourself crazy about the feeding issues right now. Make sure he won't dehydrate and that he's eating some (any solids) and that's that. When you have your meeting DEMAND!!!! that your son is seen by a speech therapist that does feeding therapy (not all do). If they won't/can't find a feeding clinic and have him seen there. Next DEMAND that OT your son works with is trained to deal with sensory issues (not all are). This is just a suggestion but my son benefited greatly by receiving his OT not at home but at a therapy clinic that had a sensory gym. There are a lot of things they can do at home buy they can do SO much more at a sensory gym.

Couple of other things - have you ruled out food allergies? I have a dear friend whose son was having a lot of feeding issues and it turned out he was allergic to dairy and wheat.

Also you are doing everything you can!!!! It is hard but it does get better. If you have a child with SPD you are dealing with way more then the typical 2s. My ds is 4 he has sensory processing issues along with some other things. Has he has gotten older it has gotten easier for me because I have learned how I need to parent him. My ds need rules, and routines, he needs to know when and why something is going to happen. He is a funny, bright, and lovable child who just does things a little different.

[Jayyym]

Thank You!

A very good friend of mine is a Service Coordinator through EI. She sent me a list of things I need to demand during his IFSP meeting. It is extremely important to me that both the Speech & OT therapists know and have experience working with SPD & Feeding issues. 

I use to work in a daycare that mainly had children with SPD & Autism. I am more then aware of what goes on with it. It's just so different when it's your child. I am doing my best to let my MIL say what she needs to and to let it go in one ear and out the other. As difficult as that is, trust me.

I've read the out of sync child a few times. I have my DH reading it now. Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it :D

[sayres]

Sounds like you are ready for your meeting. (please update us on how it goes). I am a special education teacher (by training, right now I'm a stay at home mom) ...lol it is VERY when it's your child.