Hi there,
I have a 17 month old boy who just doesn't want food in the morning... unless it's from a bottle. Due to moving a lot, doctors say not to take it away just yet. Because we're so busy in the mornings it is easy to give him his milk. I give him about 4.5 oz then he has a bath. After that, I wait a bit (maybe an hour or so) and then offer him cereal and fruit. He just has a few bites then doesn't want anymore. I wait another hour and try again, a few bites then he's done. He goes down for his nap at about 12-12:30. I try again before putting him down, he has MAYBE 3 or 4 bites then thats it. He doesn't sleep as long as I think he should be (an hour at the most, 45 mins the least) then he's starving, he makes up for it in the afternoon and the rest of the day. He sleeps well at night though. My husband say's our son is probably just not a morning eater, just like him. I on the other hand HAVE to eat as I am diabetic.
Anyone elses toddler not a big morning eater?
EDIT: I should mention he has not made the transition to eating foods that are not smoothly pureed... Still waiting for a doctors app for that.
Also, I can't feed him THEN bathe him, no time in the AM. He doesn't like cereal so I have to disguise it with fruit and water it down. He eventually eats it (for lunch). I think it's more likely he doesn't want food in the morning, only milk! We have been giving him pediasure type things mixed with milk (about 4.5 oz in total in the am) so he gets some iron.
My 14 month old isn't really a morning eater either. I usually give him a sippy cup of milk and some oatmeal. He will only eat a few bites of oatmeal, while sipping on the milk for about an hour. He is so active, and I feel like that has a part in him not wanting to eat. He is too busy playing!
Just wondering why he is not eating finger foods, you stated that you are waiting for a doctor appt to discuss that but at that age he should be eating finger foods already. Maybe he is ready for that, try little bites of food and see if he will eat that, it may be new and fun to him. Another suggestion is not giving him his milk until after he eats, that could be filling him up and that's why he isn't hungry.
You should probably see your doctor as soon as possible as my child is 15 months and has been eating solid finger food since he was 8 months he also I must add has had 10 teeth since then and 15 going on 16 now.
My child does not eat first thing in the morning so we bought him a toddlers sports cup which is similar to a bottle and he drink the 8-10 oz cup then an hour later the sitter give him a breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast or pancake or french toast or sometimes cherrios with milk and fruit or oatmeal, etc.
Try giving him something new like real oatmeal and blueberries or strawberries for him to pick up granted he is not allergic.
Maybe he just doesn't like breakfast foods? My oldest was never a cereal eater (until recently). She loved waffles with butter and cinnamon sugar, oatmeal, cottage cheese and fruit, and eggs. He probably isn't hungry because of the milk. It's filling him up. I would offer food first, then bath, then more food, then milk. If he's hungry, he's not going to sleep. My daughter is 17 months and she doesn't have a morning nap. She naps better if we wait until after lunch. Some kids really aren't morning eaters, but they do need to eat a little something. It doesn't have to be a huge breakfast. He should be eating more for lunch though. At 17 months he should be eating 3 meals with a few small snacks.
You can adjust things a little bit at a time.
My daughter still is not. Big breakfast person and she is 3 1/2 now. She makes up for it at lunch time also. She is by no means underweight or unhealthy. Just her nature. You didn't mention weight concern so I assume it is healthy. Your hubby is right. You can offer but you cant make him. Just make them best of the times when he is hungry. You can talk to the doctor about it if you are really concerned. Also, don't stress the bottle either it's a comfort for him. He won't be drinking out of it forever.
My kids are not morning eaters either.
I am not either...
