I am new here. My son James was finally diagnosed with reflux about a month ago and is currently on 30 mg of Prevacid a day. I figured I would ask the experts... so here it goes.

James is not a good eater. He is currently on about 26 ounces of soy formula a day and I have him eating three meals a day. He has limited himself to a few stage 3 jar foods (oatmeal w/ apples & cinnamon, mixed cereal w/ apples & bananas, fruit salad thickened w/ oatmeal, strawberries & bananas) and a few stage 2 jar foods thickened with oatmeal (including the veggies of which corn & sweet potatoes or plain sweet potatoes are the only ones he will eat). He is very unwilling to try new things. He may eat a couple of puffed stars or wagon wheels, but most of it ends up on the floor. If I do get some solid food in him (bread, cracker, etc.), he will hold it in his mouth for a while. Yesterday he started not trusting me when it comes to that first spoon of food. The first spoon is messy... I have to get a little in his mouth so he can taste it to see that it is something he likes... then he will eat. He usually eats a 6 ounce jar of food per meal and that's it.

He will be one in about two weeks and of course the dietician with the feeding team we see is pushing hard on the sippy cup. He doesn't want it and it is distracting to the whole feeding process. The cup usually ends up being thrown across the table or onto the floor. So I have put that on the back burner for the time being.

I guess my question is... what do you all recommend on trying with him regarding solids? I have tried mashed and diced fruits, toast, plain bread, etc. I know he is way behind in his eating and it will take time to catch-up. He is seeing an OT and speech therapist for the feeding issues. I am just afraid he is going to grow tired of his few favorites and then where are we...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome, Marcie! I may be off here, but I think it sounds like James is eating fairly well. Listen to other ladies, though, as they will have more experience.

He is eating better than he was a month ago. He used to just spit the food and scream everytime I fed him. I am just more worried about him growing bored and tired of his usual foods. This is a whole new world for me... my first baby was the best eater and was willing to try most anything.

Honestly, you don't have to push table foods at a year old. Cady's 14 months and she still eats mostly stage 3 foods. I am just now transitioning her to table foods and it's going okay. Take your time. One thing at a time. For instance, give the stage 3's for breakfast and lunch, but then for dinner, offer noodles and chicken or mashed potatoes and vegetables, stuff like that. Give those same table foods for days until he takes it willingly. I know a little boy without reflux or any other health issues that was 19 months before he would accept anything other than stage 3 foods. Now, he refuses any jarred foods, preferring his yummy table foods. Some kids, it just takes longer to get them on table food.

As far as the cup, I have been told by both the GI and Cady's ped. that she doesn't have to be fully weaned from her bottle to the cup until she is 3-3.5 years old. She loves her bottle and takes all of her rice milk that way. She does drink juice and water from a cup, though, about 8 ounces of juice/water per day via cup. So, if your son isn't ready for the cup, don't push him. It's the surest way to get him to not like the cup at all.

It sounds like Jamie is a really good eater from what you've written. He's doing fine. Patience goes a long way with these kiddos.