I had a call yesterday from a nurse on the "Feeding Team" at our local
Children's Resource Center  (CRS) regarding a 17-month old child who refuses
to eat solids, and will only breastfeed. This child is receiving 5-6 ounces of
pediasure per day in addition to "constant" breastfeeding.  He will take no
solids, and is close to being hospitalized due to Failure to Thrive.

This child was referred to CRS by the pediatrician, who didn't know what to
do.  The GI physician at CRS is telling staff that this child needs to be
completely separated from the mother for at least one week - the Dr. says he
doesn't care how the separation takes place, be it hospital, even the Crisis
Nursery.  The point is, this child will be forced to eat if mom is nowhere
around.

Mom is an educated woman of mexican decent, and I'm told she is very quiet and
compliant when she is at CRS. Last month the Dr told her she must completely
wean her baby, and she nodded her head and said OK, no problem. At the follow-
up call one month later, she told the staff that her child cried for 2 hours,
and that her husband said to feed the baby at the breast because he didn't
want to hear the crying anymore.

Evidently, all medical and behavioral issues have been ruled out.  They called
me for advice. I suggested that one of the public health nurses from the
health department be contacted to conduct a home visit to this mother, and
assess feeding/behavioral  issues in a new way.  CRS thinks that might be a
good idea.  I personally can't believe they haven't done this yet, but I guess
they don't have resources to do it.

Have any of you dealt with this type of issue before, and can you help me
offer other suggestions?  Thanks so much.

Brenda Phipps, BS, IBCLC