Having Fun with Food

Very often when we try to feed her in the high chair, Joy transforms from a happy, joyful baby into a scared, high anxiety baby.  She will immediately suck on her thumb and turn her head away, not even looking at us. We talk and try to engage her but she will look away.

Through feeding therapy, we have learned to allow her to explore her food and limit her meals to 30 min max (as well as cut it short if things are going badly). We give her pureed foods and let her smell, lick, wipe, smash, etc.  On good days, she will drink 3-4 ounces of 60-80% diluted formula and a few spoons of solids. On bad days, she will outright refuse to open her mouth for anything. Lately, she will get mad when she no longer wants to eat. I guess we all have our limits! But we are thankful for these baby steps and encouraged to see her making some progress.