How can I get my 2 year old CP child to eat more?

Caroline - posted on 07/04/2012

My daughter was born 9 weeks premmie, weighed 3 pounds & 11 ounces, she had many challenges. She was not able to walk un-assisted, she needed support to sit up, drooled constantly, developmentally delayed, frequent body tremors, some seizure like episodes, kind of in a daze all the time, clenched left hand, choking on her food, speach problems, left side weakness etc. She was elevated on her toes when holding her to walk, she was splinted for a leg brace & they wanted to give her botox, but after researching botox and discovering how it’s made and there were no long term studies I decided against it. Her life was restricted & so was mine ...and it looked this way for the rest of her life ... & mine. I felt hopeless.

We were attending all sorts of treatments and therapies which cost a lot. A friend told me about some special wellness supplements from a particular company, she started taking them in her yogurt, after one week she was up walking un-assisted, it made an immense difference to her brain function, memory, balance, mood & cognition in a short space of time. She began to thrive. I was elated!

I am so grateful to the person that told me about this incredible technology. She now has a life now ….. and so do I. It’s now over 14 yrs later and she continues to take these special nutrients, she has attended normal public schools, she is almost 16, in a few weeks she begins driving lessons and has just started an after school casual job in a fast paced food takeaway. Now she is taller than me.
http://www.navig8.biz/LifeStyle2

Candace - posted on 06/14/2011

I've also used the pediasure for my son. As a matter of fact I still use it for breakfast sometimes because he sometimes does not want to eat breakfast

Emily - posted on 06/13/2011

Thank you both for responding! I will look into the vitamins and pediasure! I think you´re right in that smaller more frequent meals is also a solution. Its good to know I´m not alone in this! Although of course I hope all our kids continue to progress, God willing!

Angela - posted on 06/12/2011

Are the doctors concerned with her weight? My 24 week preemie weighed only 18 pounds at 2 1/2 years old. He also is a CP kid. He could only eat small amounts at a time because he would physically fatigue after a few bites. He was on Pediasure until age 4. He is now 8 and weighs 68 pounds! My suggestion is to keep offering food throughout the day. Many many many small meals will be more successful than a few big ones. Consider her a "grazer". Good Luck.

Candace - posted on 06/05/2011

I was recently dealing with a similar situation with my 12mth old. His doctor suggested that I give him smaller amount of fluids as that may have been a reason why he was not eating as much and also she told me to start giving him poly vi sol vitamins. I put a drop in his milk every morning. I just started last week and since the day I started it i've seen a huge difference in his appetite. I have no problem getting him to eat and finish a meal.