8 Month Old Cannot Stand Any Food on Her Tongue

Hi M.,

check out http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/picky-eaters.html
and
http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=fi...
and
http://www.pdppress.com/MORE.htm

She may be tactile defensive on her tongue-"orally defensive"--certain textures do not feel good, and in fact feel very unpleasant. This may take some desensitizing, and the same if she has a hyperactive gag reflex. An occupational therapist and/or speech pathologist that specializes in oral-motor problems can help you through this. Great idea to talk to the pediatrician, and some (like therapists) are more savvy and more experienced than others.

If I were you, I would call your local school district's Birth to 3 Special Education program and speak with an OT or Speech Pathologist. You could also ask your pediatrician for a referral to the above private clinicians and see if your insurance will cover the cost of an evaluation, and treatment if needed.

The good thing about speaking with a Special Education teacher in a Birth to 3 program about your child, is that you could network with other parents. Good luck! jenifer

My 2 year old has a sensitive gag reflex. Do not listen to anyone she is fine!! Nothing wrong with her except it turned out she had reflux. She was gagging because her stomach hurt! She needed to puke all the time. Doc put her on Prevacid, and after refusing all kinds of food for months before we figured it out, She can finally eat again. She likes to eat all the time, but still if it is something she does not like or reminds her of something we had a terrible pucking episode before her reflux was diagnosed she still gags and just will not eat it. I am not cruel I took her to the doctor 4 times before they figured it out. She had a few colds and congestion during the winter and they blamed that for the vomiting. I figured it out on my own one morning when I noticed she had terrible morning breath. Classic sign of reflux. Good luck!

I'm just beginning to learn about this, and it's through my grandson, not my own son. My daughter in law is wishing she had sought out more specific medical help when he was younger. Our grandson is now almost 18months, and struggles to eat anything at all. He is nourished by being breast fed, which is to her credit, but undoubtedly very exhausting to be his main source of energy. Apparently our grandson's problem is partly a strong gag reflex coupled with a dislike of food textures. This is not a very common thing but since it is a difficult issue to overcome, I think consulting with those who are able to help deal with it early on, would be a helpful thing. You should ask your own doctor for a recommendation for a specialist to help you diagnose your situation. There are apparently emotional issues involved, alongside physical issues. We do not live in the same town or undoubtedly I would be able to inform you more clearly.

Hello M.! I feel for you and know exactly what you are going through. My daughter is my first and she finally started eating solids around 18 months. Since she was 2 months, the doctors have had her on Prevacid for reflux. When it cam to the eating issue, they would tell me that the reflux hurt and she was fighting her feedings. She would only eat pureed food (nothing with lumps or chunks) and she would often throw that up. It was so sad to watch. I finally went to see a speech therapist who helped my daughter. She did not focus on language at all...they worked with her on her gag reflex. For the most part, they gave me the tools and tips I needed to work with her at home. Within a few weeks, we had her eating solid foods (pieces of hot dogs, etc). After that it was a battle of wills. :) It is always something right?!?! My daughter apparently "preferred" to be fed purees from the spoon and would only eat one or two bites of solid foods. I tried everything. Eventually, I took the purees away. When she got hungry enough, she finally started eating. The amount increased gradually and at her own pace. After a week, she was eating full meals. She is now 22 months and eats only solids foods (except for the occasional pudding or yogurt). Although, she is VERY picky and only eats a handful of foods. We are currently working on increasing the variety of foods in her diet. I hope my story helps. I would talk to your pediatrician and ask their advice and see if they think a speech therapist is right for you. Good luck!

Hi M.-

I don't have any firsthand experience with this but there are some kids who simply have sensory issues. Some kids have trouble with the feel of different fabrics, noises being too loud, bright lights, or in some cases the texture of different foods. Talk to your pediatrician and if there is a sensory issue, an occupational therapist can help.

Good Luck!
K.

Some babies want the bottle instead of eating! Try to give her yogart! Decrease breast feeding!

M.

Hi M.,
I had the same problem with my son as a baby. I could not feed him mashed bananas or anything that would feel funny to him, he had a very sensitive gag reflex. If any food stayed on his tongue for more than about 5 seconds he would start to gag. He used to vomit whatever was in his stomach up at that time. I finally started to say to him "you are not going to vomit" and that actually did help. The problem lasted a long time and even now that he is almost 5 years old he sometimes has this happen.
I would recommend going to see a really highly qualified speech pathologist. I know that your baby is still young, but if there is a physilogical probelm or an as yet undiagnosed speech problem you will be way ahead. Speech starts before they start speaking. My son has autism but I am not suggesting that is the problem with your daughter. Some kids have sensory differences in their mouths and they don't need to be autistic to have that. Don;t wait until your child is older and having more problems. I have found that it is essential to be proactive when it comes to your baby. Doctors ignored me when I told them that he had a sensitive gag reflex. Does she arch her back? That is a sign of gastric reflux which my son had as well. They do that when they pain from the acid.
Well I hope that is not too much information. I have had a lot of experience with what you are going through so please email me if you want any help.
Kind regards,
W.

First of all, do not decrease her nursing sessions. Until the age of 1, breastmilk or formula should be her complete source of nutrition. Solids are for play. Compare ounce for ounce, how many calories is she getting in a jar of baby peas vs. an ounce of breastmilk? Feeding too many solids, so that they decrease nursing/bottle can cause weight gaining issues.

If she eats mashed potatoes, she is doing just fine. She doesn't really need anything else, as long as you are nursing. I would try giving her foods she can eat herself (chunked banana or avocado, cut penne pasta). Then, just let her experiment. She will start eating mama, when she is ready.

My daughter did not really want anything to do with solid food until after her first birthday. At 2, she will eat a variety of foods with no problems. She just wasn't ready at 6 months.

I had similar problem, then introduced my daughter to solids.... She is on solids for over 3 months, but still tries me. I can feed her just pure, but it has to be thick liquid. But then she starves enough, she would eat anything. But first try of different food, always links to bad faces, caugh , cry and so on... Then I take for 30 min app, from her, and I am saying- you will not get anything exept this. (all babies doesn't let themselves to starve, just for us moms it is too hard to hear them not happy)After sometime, she will try again, and only if she eats at least 2 tea spoons, I would give her breast milk.
And you need to taste first, before giving... Also my little one doesn't eat cold food, if it gets colder then I am feeding her, I need to heat again!
Good luck!

She's only 8 months. Don't force the issue. She'll come around. She doesn't need solids until well after a year old, especially if you're nursing (unless she has a weight problem). Good for you for nursing her or this might be a real issue.

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