My son is two weeks shy of turning one, and the last week he has refused to eat food. He isn't interested in ANY food. When we put him in his high chair to feed him, he turns from side to side, and when we tried to feed him he smacks our hand or bats at it. He will eat the gerber snacks puffs and graham crackers, and the earths best fruit bars, and he's drinking lots of water and has about five 7oz bottles a day. I also know that he gets ALL his nutriton from the milk, but I am curious as to why he's not refusing to eat solids. We've never had this problem. He's always loved to eat, where it be solids or what we eat.
The most common reason babies stop eating at this age is teething. Both of my kids are amazing eaters, but as soon as a tooth is about to pop through, the brakes are on and they'll only drink milk. I would continue to offer it in small portions until the tooth pops through.- www.weelicious.com
Baby #1 got teeth at 8 months and started solids at 8.5 months as well as continued to breastfeed until 16 months.
Baby #2 got teeth at 4 months grabbed my burrito and shoved it inot his mouth at 4.5 months. He continued to breastfeed until 16 months as well.
Baby #3 got teeth at 11 months and had NO interest in food at all. Finally at 18 months, I cut her off of breastmilk and she started solids. She just wasn't ready. I would be gone for 8+ hours and she would hold out for the milk. It didn't matter how hungry she got, she would not eat. Fianlly at about 18 months, I could see that she might be ready, so I left for 4 days, and she started eating within 2 hours of me leaving. Seriously, before that, I could be gone ALL day and she wouldn't eat.
They are ALL different.
My 11 month old just started doing this too and we remembered our 2 year old doing the same thing at this age. I looked back in his journal and remembered that he wouldn't eat if we fed him, but would eat finger foods, so we switched over to sweet potato and avocado cubes, grape and banana chunks, peas and carros, black beans etc...basically anything they can feed themselves...we tried it with Sofia and it worked like a charm - hope this helps!
Jennifer,
Have you considered that he just does not want to be in his highchair anymore? If you give him snacks outside his chair will he eat them?
My son (16mo) went through a "little eating" phase just a few weeks ago. Just getting him into his chair for a meal was tough. It turns out he just does not want to sit in that darn chair anymore! I took me a little while to figure this out and give in. Now we feed him picnic style on the ottoman in the living room. He is free to move around, is eating well again, and no more pre-meal stress trying to get him into the highchair.
Write back and update us on your progress and let us know if you figured it out! :) Good luck!
He might be getting some new molars - those suckers are HUGE, so they must hurt when they come in. Nobody wants to eat when their mouth hurts.
I think you might be giving him too much milk. When my son was 10 months I asked my pediatrician how much milk he should be drinking (I was breastfeeding and pumping at work). She said a minimum of 16 oz and a max of around 30-ish. By the time they're 12 months the recommended amount is 16-20 oz. This diminished amount is so that they start to get their nutrition from food instead of milk. If I were you, I'd cut back on the ounces in his bottles. Also, feed him meals before you give him milk. So he's hungry for food first. My son has always gotten his milk bottles (now sippy cups) between meals or before naps. Not with food at the same time.
Good luck!
One of two things comes to mind... 1. that stuff tastes horrible and he's wanting to eat what the family is eating now... or 2. he's just testing his limits and maybe he isn't really wanting to eat solids. Just relax and let him guide you when it comes to the food issues.
My son is a little over 2 and for the past year he often goes on "hunger strikes". His doctor told me not to worry (unless he is acting sick) as he will eat when he is hungry. My son has become a very picky eater - oh the joys of toddlers - however he will always drink kefer. You can get it at Trader Joes or we also get it at Albersons (they call it probiatic yogurt I believe - its in the yogurt section and its in a medium size plastic bottle). It has more protein than yogurt and is filling. I like it as well!
First I would lower the amount of milk or formula he is getting. Then do whatever you can to let him feed himself. My son did this as well but just because I was feeding him. When I let him do it himself he did just fine eating.
At 11 months your child should be getting some nutrician from food. Sounds like maybe too many bottles and water.
My first thought was teething and also sounds like he gets more than enough liquid. Check with your doctor. If I remember correctly at that age my daughter got 24 oz of milk and 4oz of water. Good luck!
Maybe 5 bottles a day is too much. My son is 11 months and has been taking only 3 a day.
