Feeding Frustrations

It's no secret that Colin has feeding issues...I have vented and complained many times on here before.

Sometimes, it's just. so. hard. because it doesn't feel like we are making headway.

But, I WILL say that I can look back over the past 17 months and see the challenges that Colin has overcome. They are big challenges that he successfully conquered. I know this stage is another challenge to overcome, but it honestly feels the longest.

Challenges overcome:
* When Colin was born, we couldn't leave the hospital until he drank a whole 2 ounces. I can remember vividly being so excited when he finally drank an ounce!

* When we brought him home, we had to count every last cc to make sure he was drinking enough through the day. This included waking him up at night to feed him.

* It was a challenge to find a nipple that worked (we ended up with the nuk crooked nipple).

* Transitioning from stage 2 to stage 3 foods was horrible. All he did was blow raspberries to get the chunks out of his mouth. He refused to eat stage 3s for the longest time.

* I didn't think he would ever eat table food. As long as it's chopped up pretty small, he will eat most of our food aside from anything that has a solid, crunch texture. He won't even let those foods near his mouth.

Current Challenges:
* I don't think he chews food at all. If you ask him to "chew", he gnaws for a minute with his mouth open and then moves it around to swallow.

* He knows how to drink from the straw, but the only straw he is succesfull with is a skinny funny shaped straw...when he wants to be successful. He won't hold a cup himself to drink from the straw (especially since the skinny funny shaped straws only fit in an open cup). If he doesn't feel like it, the milk just falls out of his mouth.

* He will not self feed with his fingers. He will use his pincer grip for objects, but he will not use his pincer grip for food. He just won't. No way, no how. (However, he does pretty well with helping to feed himself using a spoon).

* Even if he has had the food before, he usually spits it out first and won't eat until after many attempts (although, I've heard this is pretty common with kids in general).

Yep, we practice. We try. I have spent at least $100 in various cups with different straws, textures, shapes and sizes. We use a sensory brush on his hands. We show him how to chew. He gets therapy for these areas. And yet, I just feel like we have stalled on the side of the road with no one is site to help out.

Lol...wow, that was a bit dramatic wouldn't you say? I just want to make progress because it is frustrating. I know that he will, and I know it may take time, but it's hard.

Ok, just wanted to get that out there...thanks for listening.