Three Boys Learning to Eat
By Tammy Works

With Jeffrey he had basically no problems. He took regular formula (Similac w/Iron)until he was almost 2 years old. He has never been a good eater and we still struggle with that still today. I have learned what he likes and I cook it a lot!*lol* He weighs around 43-45 lbs and is 7 years old.

I nursed Justin only for 6 weeks. He had reflux extremely bad. He had a G-button put in at 6 months old and we used it nightly for continuous feeds, and as needed in the day time...depending on how well he drank PO, until he was 2 years old. We finally got it removed July 1998. He also took Similac PM 60/40 ( a special formula used in a lot of kidney patients) this was mixed with Poloycose and Microlipds (my spelling may be off on these names it has been a while).We found the poloycose worked while Justin was not in the active stages of life, but once he started walking the empty calories just burned off to quickly and that is when we started the microlipids! Now...they put on the weight! He took this formula until he was 2 1/2 years old. This was the ONLY way we could get him to gain ANY weight! However, he is a big eater...just drinks far more! So of course he pee's it all out! He now only weighs 28 lbs at 3 1/2 years old.

I nursed Jonathan for 6 months then we started him on the PM 60/40 with Poloycose. I think the nursing played a big role in him. He is almost as big as Justin. He eats well too. He had reflux, but also with the Hydro. We never really knew how much was reflux and how much was Hydro. pressure. He weighs 23 lbs at 15 months old.

I failed to mention that on Jonathan the baby food that he takes in the mainly smooth ones. Such as, applesauce, plums, Dutch Apple Desert, sweet potatoes, squash, green beans. We watch his sodium intake on his food (35mg or less) and try to stay away from the textures. Mainly they have to much sodium anyway..but they still make his gag and kids with a history of reflux once they start vomiting they can not stop until their stomach is empty(or at least that the case with my two boys!)

With Jeffrey and Justin we tried other things such as CitraSource (a fruit type drink...very strong). It would put the weight on...but the boys quickly stopped likeing it. If it will work for kids it is easy. It comes in drink boxes, but is strong tasting, but you can make popsicles out of it...this is fun for some kids...but mine knew what it was for and it did not work long.

Jeffrey did not have reflux. He stayed on formula because of the high sodium levels in whole milk. His kidney doc restricted his sodium intake. We started baby food at about 6 - 8 months. He was really a pretty good eater as a child...liking any sweet (i.e. applesauce), however we restricted his intake of sodium even in his baby food...never anything over 35 mg. He loves baked or grilled chicken, spagatti (made by me with all low to no added salt), roast, green beans and of course like any child pizza (which is a treat only!) Jeffrey will drink just about anything, but when his body is talking only water will do.

Justin took in things pretty will PO. However, with foods it was harder. We started around 6 months but quickly had to stop(reflux...gagging)...then restarted around 8 - 10 months. We stayed in 1st and 2nd food forever it seemed liked. He likes anything; baked or grilled chicken, grilled pork chops, spaghetti(again...made by me!), rice, roast, corn. And pizza...actually breadsticks! Justin still gags on some foods...we have to be careful because if he should get choked he can not vomit..he had the Nissen done at 6 mths also. We encouraged PO feed during the day (6mths to 2 yrs) as much as possible...because our desire was to have the g-button removed and we knew that until he could maintain his weight on his own that would never happen! But it did!!*S* Justin prefers water over anything. He will also drink orange juice which we encourage to keep his potassium levels at a norm. He also likes all of his fluids ice cold.

Jonathan nursed very well...it was just around 6 months he was still nursing every 2 hours. So we knew he was not getting what he needed. We really are just starting him on foods now. We have given him a little along, even table food...but he is still in 2nd food mostly because of the texture. He eats mashed potatoes (mine), green beans off of the table...he is still taking formula and growing well. Jonathan drinks around 20 ounces of water...64 plus ounces of formula. We have tried juice and other things but he does not care for them. I do have to say too that while nursing he took NO water...this worried me because when we would try to offer water he refused. I knew I would not nurse forever and that he needed to have a taste for water...that is coming around!

For kids with NDI water is the best medicine...if ya know what I mean!! It is something that they need to love because it will at one point or another be the drive of their life!