Maybe. Just maybe.
When we took the boys to the pediatrician for their never-ending cold last week, we brought up the issue of their eating habits (rather, Jonah’s habit of not eating). This was a new doctor – since the appointment was last-minute we couldn’t get an appointment with our normal pediatrician. And he’s the type that if you’re not talking, he is. And he wasn’t familiar with their specific GERD history, though he was aware they had it.
First, he looked at their weights and pronounced them perfectly healthy.
Jonathan begged to differ regarding Jonah. But the doctor insisted 19 pounds was just fine for a 13 month-old.
We then said we were limiting the number of ounces in their bottles at mealtimes (to encourage eating of solids) and asked about transitioning them to toddler formula. (Note: limiting the ounces in and of itself was a leap of faith because it’s just been in the last couple of months that Jonah actually wanted to drink from his bottle at all.)
“No, just put them on regular whole milk.”
Even though still Jonah gets 75% of his daily calories from formula?
“Yes. And no need to transition.”
Not going to mention the last time we didn’t gradually transition formulas Jonah developed a terribly painful diaper rash that took a month and every diaper cream ever invented to heal…. So we told him Jonah just that day had put a piece of food in his own mouth for the first time.
“Good! They have teeth? Yes? Okay, no more baby food.”
We interject: “But, but…”
“Just cut up whatever you’re eating. Don’t make anything special for them.”
We gave up. We basically do this already, but I also give them either yogurt, porridge, or pureed fruit/vegetable/meat via spoon with each meal.
And even though Jonah’s GERD is much improved, we are still dealing with repercussions. He still eats just until his stomach is sufficiently full so he’s not starving….just enough to stay in the 3rd percentile. During meals, he still gags occasionally and throws up every once in a while. He self-feeds maybe an ounce of finger food each day. If it wasn’t for the 3-4 ounces of solid foods I spoon-feed him, he’d essentially be on a liquid diet.
The bottom line is that it’s always hard to know how and when to transition to treating/feeding them like “normal” kids. I think Benjamin is essentially eating what/how most kids his age eat. Jonah…. not. Probably we need to further limit Jonah’s formula/milk intake to encourage him to eat more solids. (And try not adding the oatmeal to the bottle – even though Old Faithful may reappear.)
Maybe we just need to realize they’re not preemie GERDlings anymore and stop being so obsessive about the food thing.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
We’ll proceed with caution.
Feb 26, 2007 at 2:07 PM
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