https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties/psychological-and-mental-health-services-pamhs/national-feeding-and-eating-disorders-service/feeding-and-eating-disorder-service-resources/

Feeding and Eating Disorder Service Resources

Resources that might be useful for parents and carers of children and young people with feeding and eating difficulties. These might also be helpful for professionals working with these children.

Parent and carer Workshop

The SOS approach to feeding website includes a variety of resources including a free parent and carer workshop introducing parents to paediatric feeding problems, why children may struggle with feeding and eating and steps parents can take to help their child.

Parent and carer support group

  • The charity BEAT provides a parent and carer support group for families who are unable to access local services.
  • BEAT is a charity that provides resources including information about eating disorders and an ARFID carer support group called Endeavour.

Resources for food exploration

  • The 32 steps to eating (Dr K. Toomey (1995/2010) is an infographic describing the steps to eating that children need to move through before accepting new foods. This is helpful resource to model food exploration steps at home and in school.
  • Having fun with food tips is a document giving some ideas around how to set up food exploration that might help children desensitise to different foods.

Charotites

  • ARFID Awareness UK is the UK's only charity dedicated to further understanding of Avoidant or Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). This includes helpful resources such as a sensory toolkit resource.
  • Disability charity Scope UK - Provides information for parents of disabled children with eating and feeding difficulties.

Books

  • 'Can't Eat, Won't Eat' by Brenda Legge, is a book written from the parent perspective of having a child with dietary difficulties on the Autistic spectrum.
  • 'Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Childhood and Adolescence: A Parent's Guide' by Dr Rachel Bryant-Waugh, provides practical advice for carers of children with ARFID.
  • ‘Food Refusal and Avoidant Eating in Children, including those with Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Practical Guide for Parents and Professionals’ by Gillian Harris and Elizabeth Shea, provides support and understanding to parents around ARFID and ARFID-type presentations.
  • ‘Feeding Problems in Children: A Practical Guide’, by Angela Southall and Clarissa Martin, provides comprehensive information around paediatric feeding problems and their treatment.
  • ‘The Picky Eater's Recovery Book: Overcoming Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder’ by Jennifer J. Thomas, is a book that teenagers might find helpful in supporting with ARFID.

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Reference: 1225WAD0030