'Does my six-year-old have food phobia?'
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Q: I have a six-year-old son who was diagnosed as a coeliac at the age of three. As it took so long from weaning as a baby to becoming very ill and diagnosed coeliac, I am sure he has a phobia about eating food. He lives on a diet of gluten-free bread and Marmite and, occasionally, cereal or yoghurt, cheese, crisps etc. Although he is allowed as much fresh fruit, vegetables, potatoes, meat or fish as he could eat, he refuses to even try them. If I try to push he ends up crying. Could he have a phobia? Nik, 33 |
our online advisors reply:
It sounds like your son is very anxious about trying new foods. The fact that he's had to watch what he's been eating could well make him nervous about eating foods he isn't used to. He might be scared that eating these foods would affect him in the way that gluten-containing foods do.
On the other hand, it is very common for children to refuse certain foods and often they simply grow out of it. Food refusal is often very worrying for a parent, but it's best to avoid showing anxiety or frustration. This can easily be passed on to the child and end up making things worse next time. It is probably a good idea not to push the matter once your child has refused something.
If you haven't already, you may like to check out our own article on food refusal. The article explores some of the reasons why children restrict their diet and has suggestions for parents on how to cope.
You could also contact the Anna Freud Centre. This is a centre for child psychotherapy, rather than a specialist centre for child eating problems, but the staff are happy to take calls from concerned parents. For further information call the Anna Freud Centre on 020 7794 2313. The website – www.annafreudcentre.org – has a page about children and eating problems, which was published following the Channel 4 programme Children Behaving Badly in August 2002.
If you are concerned that your son's diet is affecting his growth and overall development, the best thing would be to visit your doctor. They will be able to look more closely at your son's diet and his general health. Your GP could also refer you to a dietician if they felt it was necessary.
You don't say whether you have access to any support in relation to your son's condition. Coeliac UK is a membership-based charity offering support for people with coeliac disease, including local groups. Their website is at www.coeliac.co.uk.
If you feel you would like someone to talk to about how you are feeling, you can contact Parentline Plus, a freephone helpline for parents. The number is 0808 800 2222 (Mon-Fri 8am-10pm; Saturdays 9.30am-5pm; Sundays 10am-3pm) and the website is at www.parentlineplus.org.uk.
I hope that this helps.
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