My 5 yr old has been seemingly vomitting voluntarily since she was 2. Of course, she has typical childhood worries/anexities, but nothing out of the ordinary. Home life is good, daycare center is good. Diet and exercise. No weight problems. Very bright, happy and outgoing girl. I have discussed this with her pediatrician, but he says it is perfectly normal. This happens sometimes 2-4 times a week, then skips days or weeks and when we think she’s grown out of it she does it again. I am worried about Bulimia. I’m sure she is taking comfort in it. I can’t get any answers from her why she does this. Should I be so worried? Anybody have similar experience with their children?
Can’t offer any help on this, but I just wanted to say that I have been able to do this ever since I was 4 or so. Assuming you mean that she simply chooses when to upchuck and then calmly does so with no gagging or fingers involved.
It’s a really neat trick – if I feel that I ate something unpleasant, I can simply reverse the works and “pump” it out.
I guess that she will have to be careful with her talent so as not to fall into bulemia, as you noted.
Vomiting was automatic for me when my mother forced me to eat certain foods, like broccoli or brussels sprouts. But though it was automatic, it wasn’t voluntary. Couldn’t help it. Just couldn’t get the stuff to stay down.
Apparently around the age of three, I used vomiting (not intentionally, I think) as a form of manipulation. When my parents left me with a babysitter, when they made me wear clothing I didn’t want to wear, things like that, I would vomit. My parents just ignored–cleaned me up, didn’t get mad but didn’t make a fuss and didn’t change anything they were doing.
It stopped after awhile, I never had any tendency to bulimia, and I cannot now vomit deliberately. So I would agree with your pediatrician. In the absence of any other symptoms of digestive or mental distress, there’s probably nothing to worry about.