A few nights ago we were watching "The Incredibles," thinking nothing of it. Suddenly the spider-like robot leapt onto the screen, John shrieked, and then he began crying and saying, "boom! boom!" We tried fast-forwarding through the scene, but there were too many upcoming robot scenes and we abandoned the effort to watch the movie. That night when we went to bed, as soon as I turned off the lights, John began crying vigorously and saying, "boom! boom!" Even though I was right there comforting him, it took me almost an hour of his crying before he would fall asleep. Then last night John awoke suddenly in the middle of the night screaming, then continued crying and saying, "boom! boom!"
It seems that our sweet and slow-to-adapt little boy might be particularly sensitive about images on television. He hasn't had many opportunities to become scared because Chris and I don't watch scary movies or television. So, we'll be starting to limit our quantity and quality of television that we watch.
In other news, I found that Target (Archer Farms) makes wonderful all-natural fruit leather and fruit bars. Sadly John declared them "thbbbttt!" along with Horizon chocolate milk. However, this morning I diligently prepared another sippy cup of the chocolate milk and left it sitting out. In the early afternoon when John didn't know I was looking, I caught him taking a long, delicious drink of the milk and not spitting it out. Ha!
I think you're really wise about the TV. When DS was born, we made the decision to go TV-free. DH and I still watch movies or TV shows on DVD once he goes to bed, but we want to keep DS screen/media free for the long-term. The only challenge is computer use...I like to hop on and off during the day to check my email and read blogs, but moving the computer up into our bedroom has cut down on my habit a lot! (DH is giving DS his bath, so I'm "free" now to surf!)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear John drank some milk! DS had one sip a few days ago from my cup. Have you had any luck gathering recipes with baked goods with added fruit or grains? I couldn't come up with anything when you asked, but today I was thinking the carrot cake cupcakes I made for DS's birthday last year might have a shot. At that point I was really picky about what I let him eat and of course, he didn't eat much, so IIRC there isn't much sugar. I also have a rice flour cupcake recipe. I'll pass them along, if you'd like!
I can really sympathize with your plight of John's food, and don't have anything terribly helpful to add other than the multiple things I have already suggested, but I feel so sad for you that he seems to be heading toward junk food addiction. Won't eat anything that's not baked and/or full of sugar? I would really hate to be in your position.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried simply letting him go hungry until he eats something you feel he needs to try? I usually try to avoid that tactic unless it's necessary, but it does often work. (The old "if you don't eat it for breakfast, you'll eat it for lunch" approach.) They can only go on a hunger strike for so long. But, you know him better than I do and he is certainly different from my kids. It might not work at all for him.
How does he do with greens? protein? Those are much more important, I think, than trying to focus so hard on fruit and letting him bloat up on carbs constantly.
Well we can all pray he just wakes up one day and has magically grown out of it!! I am sure all your loving attempts to get him on a good nutritious road will pay off one way or the other.
oh! the poor guy! *and* poor YOU!
ReplyDeleteand i agree w/Courtney - if you limit it now, it'll be easier than if you try and make changes later. i mean, i understand that you need to limit *now* so as not to scar little John! - good decision regardless of the circumstance. My kids don't really watch TV - unless it's Noggin or something. They watch movies that we own or through NetFlix.
I hope John gets over this quickly; not only for his sake :-)
Sarah: Well, I surely hope John isn't headed for junk food addiction because I don't give him junk food, but I am in a tough spot. Yes, he wants baked goods full of sugar which is why I have tried very little in terms of baking fruit or veggies: in my research, virtually all the recipes have two cups of sugar in them. It's not worth him consuming tons of sugar for a teaspoon of vegetables. The only vegetable he likes so far is brocolli, but he still mostly mouths it. He eats very little protein. He likes peanut butter and shaved almonds very much so I get him to eat those daily, as well as milk in his breakfast cereal (which is always a health cereal, nearly sugar-free); occasionally he has eaten a piece of chicken or beef and that's so exciting, but 9 times out of 10, he rejects it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so confused about whether to starve him out. So far, I am not preparing him special meals. He is offered what we are eating. But I am extremely hesitant to get into food battles because I think children will win those every time. Even if they are eventually driven to eat the food out of starvation, the stubbornness and rebellion will continue. I want to inspire him to like good foods instead. I'm really in a quandry and it is upsetting for sure.
Ugh. I am sure your patience and perseverance will win the day, and I hope you don't get too discouraged in the meantime. Do you suspect this has mostly to do with his late start on solids or do you think it is personality-driven?
ReplyDeleteSarah: Thanks. I wonder how much is John's late start with solids and how much is his personality. Probably mostly the latter.
ReplyDeleteI do my best to give him the most nutrition in what he will eat. For example, his peanut butter is just ground peanuts bought in the bulk section. Pasta is whole wheat or whole grain or high protein. Crackers are Stoned Wheat Thins. And so and and so forth. With what he will eat, I do my best not to jade his palate further.
Aww, poor little guy!!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering though, could it be that what was bothering him is the loud noises in that scene rather than the images? (obviously, you know your boy more than anyone, but it's just something I thought of as Emma's been startled by loud noises in a movie)