My almost 11 month old son was eating well up until a week ago. I'm about to pull my hair out with concern! Up until a week ago, he was still eating mostly baby food (ok, so maybe I was a little behind) and he would eat 1 tub of baby food for breakfast, 2 for lunch (a fruit and a veggie), and 2 for dinner. He would have his bottles along with them and 1 or 2 in between. Feedings were going smoothly. A little over a week ago, he just started refusing his food. He clamps his mouth shut and hollers at me. If I manage to get any food into his mouth, he just spits it out. He still drinks his bottles but will not eat ANYTHING except dry cheerios and graham crackers. I thought maybe he's just done with baby food and wants to eat like a big boy, but he won't eat table food either. I've tried bananas, veggies, pastas, oatmeal, cereal bars, breads, boiled apples (like applesauce) and pretty much anything I eat cut up really small. He is a little guy already (18 lbs and only 15% in weight) so I am really worried about him not getting enough to eat. I've heard this happens around this age but am so frustrated and worried! Any ideas ladies? I would greatly appreciate any help!
Maybe he wants to eat like you do, with a spoon. Let him try (although it can get alittle messy) to feed himself. He will either decide it is not worth it and let you try or he will love it...hopefully!!! You could also try the mesh bag feeder things, they have a round handle attached to a mesh bag that you fill with soft food, an alternative form of self feeding. Good luck!!!
My two daughters did the same thing between 10 and 11 months old. It is very frustrating. As long as he is still taking his bottles I wouldn't be too worried. As long as you continue to offer him food, he will eat when he is hungry - don't force it. This is a time when their rate of growth slows down therefore their appetite decreases. As with everything this is a phase that will pass.
I found it helpful to let my daughters use a spoon while I too used one to feed them. Try not to get too frustrated, continue to offer nutritious food and he will eat when he's hungry. If it makes you feel better you can give him Poly-Vi-Sol multi-vitamin once a day mixed in a bottle. I've seen it at Schnucks and Walgreens.
Hi A.,
A child-eating rule of thumb: "a child will never starve themselves". He will eat when he is ready. Children change their minds about when and what they will eat constantly, for whatever reason; teething, ears, tastebuds, etc... as long as they have liquids and are not dehydrated that is what is most important. You may have days of no eating, days of some eating, days of eating every two hours, to days of non-stop eating. Go with the flow, your child's body will lead you: their bodies are more in-tuned with nature than we, adults are. i.e. when my son is not feeling very well, like a cold may be coming on, he craves bread and/or wheat-thins, there is something in the yeast that wards off the cold. This has been consistent since age 1 and he is now 3 1/2.
Success is consistency.
God Speed, M. N.
I agree with the other moms...It is probably just a phase. My little one (13mos) will do the same thing if he doesn't like the food I'm giving him.
Also, If he is going through a growth spurt he will stop eating like normal for a week or so and then one day the kid can't get enough food. So I wouldn't worry about it unless he won't eat or drink ANYTHING at all and if it lasts more than a week and a half to two weeks.
Good luck...kids can be picky eaters!
Hi A.,
I would check his mouth and see if he is teething.
Depending on what teeth he already has in it depends on how they effect him. My daughter i getting her 2 bottom, 1 yr molars in now. She has her top 2 molars in, 4 teeth in the front and she is cutting her eye teeth. She has the 2 middle teeth in front and she is cutting on next to one of those. They make her a grizzly bear in babies clothes, lol.
I agree with the other posters... check for teething, possible thrush, or even an ear infection.
As long as he is still getting plenty of formula or breastmilk he should be fine. If it keeps up I would call his pediatrician.
Best advice I got as a new mom (and after 2 little ones so far, know that they were always right)--"It's just a phase!" I often wish I hadn't fretted so much about our son's eating. He always stayed on the same line on the growth charts, although I was positive he was starving some months :) He is 3 now and still is not a good eater, but is plenty healthy! Unless your son goes down on the charts, don't fret!
My dr. had 4 kids in 6 years, so he's seen everything under the sun and was never worried about my son's eating habits. He said you'd be suprised at how little it really takes for a child to get the calories they need for growth.
I wish I somehow could've taken all that advice to heart better--we spent so much time fretting, being REALLY frustrated, worrying.... until he was about 2 1/2. I wish I hadn't wasted all that energy! :)
Have you checked his mouth for thrush? It's painful and could be why he's refusing ... just a thought. It's kind of a white colored "rash" inside the mouth.
On a side-note, my pediatrician always said "they'll eat when they're hungry." She's right. They won't starve themselves. Just make sure he stays hydrated.
Hang in there mom! It gets easier!! ;)
Best.
J.
