Problem Feeder

For the last year, I thought Baylee was a picky eater.  I figured if we introduced a food to her enough times, she would at least try it.  It's been a long, on-going battle.  I've been told that it takes 15-20 times of introducing a food before a child will try it.  Well, I've introduced various foods more than that many times & she will not look at the food.  Her usual reaction is to scream & push the plate/bowl across the table.  Sometimes, she throws the offending food item.  I've always thought to myself that her reaction was way over the top, but she's a bit of a drama queen, so I ignored it.


As we approach her 3rd birthday, I'm becoming more & more worried.  Livy is going to look at her older sister & wonder why she doesn't or won't eat certain foods & Livy is going to do the same thing.  Baylee is dropping foods left & right.  Things she used to eat, she won't touch now.  She used to eat any type of fruit, but now she will only take a few bites of banana & grapes.  We used to be able to get her to eat pancakes, bagels with cream cheese, toast, peanut butter sandwiches.  She hasn't touched any of those foods in months.  This isn't right.  Her main source of nutrition right now is yogurt.  When she decides she's done with yogurt, I don't know what we're going to do.


I finally found a description of what I'm sure is an accurate depiction of Baylee.  She's a problem feeder.

A Picky Eater A Problem Feeder

Decreased range or variety of foods. Will eat 30 different foods or more		Restricted range or variety of foods usually less than 20 different foods
Foods lost due to "burn out" because of a food jag are usually re-gained after a 2-week break		Foods lost due to food jags are not re-acquired
Able to tolerate new foods on plate and usually can touch or taste a new food (even if reluctantly)		Cries and "falls apart" when presented with a new food
Eats at least one food from most all food texture groups		Refuses entire categories of food textures
Will add new foods to repertoire in 15-25 steps		Adds new foods in more than 25 steps

According to studies, problem feeders will often need extensive therapy from a multi-disciplinary feeding team (occupational therapist, speech therapist, nutritionist, psychologist/behavioralist, physician) of which the parents are an integral part, in order to overcome their feeding problems.  Studies have shown that treatment success and gains at home were largely due to parental compliance in implementing and following through with clinicians suggestions and protocols for treatment (Kennedy Krieger Institute).
I made a phone call to our insurance company today & a nutritionist & child psychiatrist are covered.  I was hoping a food therapist would be covered, but they said to get some names from our ped. & maybe a different billing code could/would cover the cost.  If the cost isn't covered, I'm going to have to convince Mike that Baylee has a problem (he just thinks she's stubborn & strong willed) & we have to pay out of pocket to resolve this.