Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Toddler with an Aversion to Textures | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
My son is 21 months old and has been evaluated by my pediatrician and a nutritionist. He has basically been diagnosed with "texture aversion" and not learning to chew and swallow. He is refusing all solid food and exists on PediaSure®, juice, and Gerber 2nd Foods®.
Could you possibly give me (and other moms, as I have been informed that this is common), more information on this distressing problem? I've been an R.N. for 12 years and have never heard of this! (My son is an only child and is otherwise active and healthy.)
Thank you very much.— Daniel's Mama in Wilson, NC | | | ANSWER |
September 13, 2001 | | | Dear Daniel's Mama,
Children may experience an aversion to textures for a variety of reasons. They often have a dislike for a specific texture of food such as mushy or crisp. They also have different degrees of aversion ranging from a mild dislike to a strong dislike. The child who has a mild aversion simply avoids the food that has the texture that is disagreeable to him; parents often find other foods that the child will accept. The parent of the child who has the strong aversion has more difficulty finding foods that the child will accept. It can be very frustrating and often results in labeling the child as "picky."
The trick to dealing with a very aversive child is to maintain good nutrition while also challenging the child by introducing foods with textures he has difficulty tolerating. These children often benefit from oral therapy from a speech therapist or occupational therapist with experience in dealing with feeding problems. Consultation with a registered dietitian is helpful to assure that the child receives adequate nutrients for proper growth and development.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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