PICKY OR A PROBLEM?
WORDS: Jennifer Colombo, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Owner of Therapeutic Potentials, Inc.
As young children begin the transition from pureed baby foods to
table foods, preferences are quickly developed. Temperatures,
like new foods. Many parents consider one or more of their kids to be a
so-called “picky eater.”
However, certain behaviors during meals should raise this question - is this
a picky eater situation, or is this a problem eater situation that is considered
an Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or a Swallowing Disorder?
1. Ongoing poor weight gain (rate re: percentiles falling) or weight loss.
2. Ongoing choking, gagging, or coughing during meals - gagging while
trying, or at the sight or smell of certain foods.
3. Ongoing problems with vomiting.
5. History of a traumatic choking incident.
6. History of eating and breathing coordination problems, with ongoing
respiratory issues.
7. Parents reporting child as being “picky” at 2 or more well child checks.
8. Inability to transition to baby food purees by 10 months of age.
9. Inability to accept any table food solids by 12 months of age.
10. Inability to transition from breast/bottle to a cup by 16 months of age.
11. Has not weaned off baby foods by 16 months of age.
13. Food range of less than 20 foods, especially if foods are being dropped
over time with no new foods replacing those lost.
14. An infant who cries and/or arches at most meals.
cooking several different meals.
(Source: Dr. K.A. Toomey, 2010)
If you are worried about your child being more than a “picky eater”
contacting a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who is trained in feeding
to determine if your child is going through a typical phase or recommend
further evaluation and intervention.