Feeding a child with a limited ability to chew

Thursday, November 13th, 2008 | Caregivers and providers, Medical complications of the developmentally disabled

Quincy has an excellent swallow reflex which we’ve been told is rather unusual for a child as disabled as ours. What it means is that she does not have to be tube-fed. The use of a G-tube for feeding comes with complications and it’s nice to not include those in her already complicated life. However, Quincy doesn’t chew or use her teeth much…when she is given food she simply tastes it and if she likes it she swallows. If she doesn’t she just leaves in in her mouth, mouth open, until it falls out. Then she will clamp her mouth shut and refuse any more bites. Luckily she is not a picky eater. She appreciates flavor and variety…our only challenge is to find foods that are soft-solids that she can swallow without choking. She is able to eat almost any pasta dish, especially if it has a heavy sauce. She can eat casseroles and soft Mexican food, like enchiladas (one of her all-time favorites). She eats oatmeal for breakfast (our favorite is Kirkland organic instant) and I pack a Stouffers frozen meal, like meatloaf with gravy or mac-n-cheese, for her school lunches. We have found that finding food she will eat isn’t terribly difficult. But the issue of feeding her can be. If she is having seizure complications or medication interactions she seems to lose her appetite. It’s quite a challenge to put calories into a child who has no desire to eat. It’s times like these that, when all else fails, we can always resort to the occasional Pediasure. Pediasure is great for the calories and nutritional content but also for the added fiber. Constipation is a constant battle and any time we can add fiber to her meals to keep her regular naturally the better. Quincy drinks water…that is her preference. We must squirt little sips into her mouth from a water bottle. It’s a slow process and requires a lot of attention and patience during the course of a day to make sure she gets all the hydration she needs. Dehydration can lead to issues with her medications and also complicates the constipation issue further so it’s incredibly important to be sure she gets plenty of water every day. What is great about Quincy is that she generally loves good food with lots of flavor. She is very appreciative when I make the effort to make a big, home cooked meal. Thanksgiving is one of those times because almost everything we make, from the main dish to dessert, is something she will enjoy. It really is much more fun to cook for Q than my other children…she complains a lot less and generally eats a lot more. She is the absolute perfect big-sister role model for them!

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