Toddler may need g-tube

[jbrandonAW]

Wow, whoever you talked to annoys me.
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<br />First go to www.wholesomebabyfood.com or wholesometoddlerfood.com
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<br />Next - avacado is a GREAT high fat food. Its wonderful mixed with yogart, banana, anything really. Next you should add butter, oil, infant cereal whatever to everything you can for extra calories.
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<br />How was he diagnosed with milk allergy? I just asked b/c my doc said that they can't test until after too (my CF doc is also an allergist)
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<br />Also most kids that can't have milk can also have yogart and cheese. You need to encourage eating real foods. They have more calories. Do not give supplements until AFTER he has eaten. Have you try goats milk, almond milk, or eve organic regular milk? Either way you do NOT have to have milk to have a healthy diet.
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<br />Also, is your child following their own growth curve??? My daughter is failure to thrive, BUT she is following her own curve, She is far from even the 25%., but my husband and I are tiny. So you need to remember genetics.
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<br />All that being said - I have a g-tube and love it! Its taken the stress off of eating.Also when I am sick I don't have to worry about force feeding myself either. I honestly think that g-tube should be standard CF practice.

 

[meteoras69]

These are all good suggestions. I am not oppossed to my son getting a g-tube if he really needs one; I just don't feel certain we've really explored the alternatives yet. Also, from other parents I've talked to, their kids were much smaller and not growing as well when the g-tube was recommended. Aidan's has actually been making gains (from the 15% to 25%) over the past two months. The nutritionist keeps recommending baby foods, but I find those are mostly water and not high in calories, and Aidan loves finger foods. He's old enough for table food, I think. He is 14 months. Am I missing something or in denial? We are going to go to another CF center for a second opinion; additional nutrition advice. Like I said, I'm not ruling out a g-tube if he can't put on weight....I just want to make sure I've really made other efforts.

 

[meteoras69]

These are all good suggestions. I am not oppossed to my son getting a g-tube if he really needs one; I just don't feel certain we've really explored the alternatives yet. Also, from other parents I've talked to, their kids were much smaller and not growing as well when the g-tube was recommended. Aidan's has actually been making gains (from the 15% to 25%) over the past two months. The nutritionist keeps recommending baby foods, but I find those are mostly water and not high in calories, and Aidan loves finger foods. He's old enough for table food, I think. He is 14 months. Am I missing something or in denial? We are going to go to another CF center for a second opinion; additional nutrition advice. Like I said, I'm not ruling out a g-tube if he can't put on weight....I just want to make sure I've really made other efforts.

 

[meteoras69]

These are all good suggestions. I am not oppossed to my son getting a g-tube if he really needs one; I just don't feel certain we've really explored the alternatives yet. Also, from other parents I've talked to, their kids were much smaller and not growing as well when the g-tube was recommended. Aidan's has actually been making gains (from the 15% to 25%) over the past two months. The nutritionist keeps recommending baby foods, but I find those are mostly water and not high in calories, and Aidan loves finger foods. He's old enough for table food, I think. He is 14 months. Am I missing something or in denial? We are going to go to another CF center for a second opinion; additional nutrition advice. Like I said, I'm not ruling out a g-tube if he can't put on weight....I just want to make sure I've really made other efforts.

 

[hmw]

Going from the 15th to the 25th% in just 2 months is great progress! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Yes, 14mo is definitely old enough for table food and lots of finger food, and this allows for much more creativity when it comes to being able to introduce higher fat/higher calorie choices.

You don't sound like a parent in denial or missing something important at all- you are absolutely correct in wanting to explore your options before going in that direction. The combination of close-minded people at clinic that won't cooperate with your continuing to explore other options & seeing them ignore the progress he has made in the right direction are red flags to me that a 2nd opinion is a really good idea. When it comes to Emily, we really tried everything- and I do mean everything!!! ...before going the route we did. She was trailing along in the 5-10th% and struggling with weight loss every time she got sick despite being a GREAT eater and all of those factors went into making the decision to try the tube.

 

[hmw]

Going from the 15th to the 25th% in just 2 months is great progress! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Yes, 14mo is definitely old enough for table food and lots of finger food, and this allows for much more creativity when it comes to being able to introduce higher fat/higher calorie choices.

You don't sound like a parent in denial or missing something important at all- you are absolutely correct in wanting to explore your options before going in that direction. The combination of close-minded people at clinic that won't cooperate with your continuing to explore other options & seeing them ignore the progress he has made in the right direction are red flags to me that a 2nd opinion is a really good idea. When it comes to Emily, we really tried everything- and I do mean everything!!! ...before going the route we did. She was trailing along in the 5-10th% and struggling with weight loss every time she got sick despite being a GREAT eater and all of those factors went into making the decision to try the tube.

 

[hmw]

Going from the 15th to the 25th% in just 2 months is great progress! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Yes, 14mo is definitely old enough for table food and lots of finger food, and this allows for much more creativity when it comes to being able to introduce higher fat/higher calorie choices.
<br />
<br />You don't sound like a parent in denial or missing something important at all- you are absolutely correct in wanting to explore your options before going in that direction. The combination of close-minded people at clinic that won't cooperate with your continuing to explore other options & seeing them ignore the progress he has made in the right direction are red flags to me that a 2nd opinion is a really good idea. When it comes to Emily, we really tried everything- and I do mean everything!!! ...before going the route we did. She was trailing along in the 5-10th% and struggling with weight loss every time she got sick despite being a GREAT eater and all of those factors went into making the decision to try the tube.