my kid is drinking milk again-finally

Remember when I shared that my little one had suddenly gone off drinking milk? That was over four long months ago. It has been a long time of offering yogurt, cooking with evaporated milk and sitting on my hands and biting my tongue while she turned her nose away from milk. I didn't push her (though tempted) knowing that pressure with feeding backfires. I continued to offer it and drank milk with dinner myself most nights, and I'm happy to say she's asking for milk again and enjoying it. It took several months, and patience, and consciously not worrying about her intake day to day but remembering the big picture. And I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being really happy when she chose milk last week.

Waiting is hard.

For anyone transitioning to a trust model of feeding, for parents who have been pushing food and now stop, or parents who have been bribing with dessert to get veggies in, or parents who have been cutting kids off before the child wanted, the days, weeks and months can seem like forever. Your child will test to see if you can be trusted not to pressure, and your child will need time to learn to tune in to hungry and full again and to feel in control about trying new foods (see Division of Responsibility.) Hang in there, celebrate the little victories and allow them to give you strength for the inevitable feeding "challenges."

A client told me her son recently chose the pears over crackers and this was a first. She was excited. We paused to note that her son was coming along with his feeding. It would take time, but he was proving that he could be trusted. With structure and support and no pressure, he would have a better relationship with food in the long run.

Have you been able to hang in there, or have you lost your nerve and done some back-sliding? Do you need help with your feeding challenges?