I don't really know what to do about my son. He is 9 months old and all but refuses his formula. He will eat solid food, but usually just fruit. He was eating just about anything just one month ago, but now he refuses. I'm tired of the battle every time it's time to eat. He is developing fine, but he is always in the 5-8 percentiles for his weight. Any suggestions?
Will he drink out of a sippy? It seems a little soon, but maybe he's ready. And I would stop even offering him fruits. He gets veggies or nothing, for now, until he learns he needs to eat those first. He'll eat when he's hungry.
Did you read "little sugar addicts" it is about children and sugar sensitivity, (Kathleen Desmaison is the author).
I would propose protein and carb rather than fruits.
C.,
When I read your message, I immediately identified with the frustrating situation you are going through. It is funny but my daughter started refusing the bottle at 9 months, too. She would scream at the very sight of the bottle. Every feeding was a nerve-wrecking experience for both my husband and myself. We were truly desperate and concerned for out little one's intake of nutrition and liquids drastically diminished. Different formula and nipples did not change the situation. Our daughter would take some solids but without much enthusiasm. We were going mad for three weeks (during which she came down with her first virus) and then...the problem went away. I still don't know what the issue was and now it is resolved. Hope my story will give you some hope and comfort.
He sounds like he is just inbetween growth spurts where they dont eat all that much. It happens all the time, and the most important part of growing is that curve on the chart your doctor has. If you are worried about his size, then try some pediasure, which is a high calorie drink. It could be dairy based, so probably ask your doctor first, however, i do know moms with small kids who used it before 1. Good Luck!
He may not be "picky" C., but experiencing distress in his colon that he cannot communicate about.
Formula is laden with corn syrup solids which causes yeast in the colon. The yeast eventually overwhelms the good bacteria in the colon which digests our food. A colon filled with yeast is uncomfortable for babies and they often stop eating just because they feel so lousy. The fact that he will only eat fruit (which turns to sugar in the body) indicates that this is what is happening. The yeast craves sugar to help it to grow.
Babies who start refusing formula are often responding to this problem. Might he also be getting rashes, runny noses and ear infections?
1. Stop this cycle by finding a non-corn syrup based formula. If you have been using milk-based switch to soy, or if you have been using soy-based switch to milk.
2. Then, go to the health food/vitamin store near you and buy ACIDOPHILUS. This is good bacteria (also found in yoghurt) that you can give to him to rebuild his colon. If you give it long enough it will consume the yeast and he will return to normal. Acidophilus is safe to give daily for an entire lifetime ~ there are no side effects. Chewable or powdered - if you cannot find chewable, put 1/4 t. of the powder in his formula.
3. You can also give him yoghurt as long as he is not getting colds and runny noses. Buy the PLAIN, Whole Milk, UNsweetened yoghurt and throw in some fruit to sweeten.
Your son will start eating the first day you introduce acidophilus into his diet.
When my son was 9 months, now 5 1/2 years. I had to take him off formula just because he was throwing up a hole bottle in a day.. I had enough of it so I started him on regular milk and added on drop of the vitamin drops you buy from the store for babies.. If your son will take milk, start giving him vitamin drops once a day. It sounds like you might just have to start offering him table food since he has become picky. I hate it just as well as you, but like the doctors say, he will he when he is hungry!! Good luck
My son (9 1/2 months now) would eat anything until about a month ago. I was giving him home-made purees of all sorts of fruits and veggies. Then one day he just started making gag faces at anything we'd feed him. He'd only eat banana. I thought it was because he was sick... but when I fed him store bought foods he took them down like a champ. He had been eating only store bought food until about last week -I started giving him homemade purrees again and he took to them. He also has never taken formula and started that a week or so ago too.
Maybe texture is an issue? Tempurature? I just keepntrying new things and let him decide when he's ready. I also feed him 5 meals a day (the morning and afternoon snacks are hefty) when he's being picky to make sure he's getting lots of calories. Also singing, letting him feed you, eating with him may help???? It's exhausting but I try to make it fun and not let on my frustration. Good luck!
I agree with the other responses saying try other things and not to give up. I also want to add that I have a nephew with severe food allergies and that he knew before he could even communicate that things did not feel good when he ate them. This is just a possibility, so avoiding certain foods could also be from something like this as well. Make a list of the things he avoids and if it continues maybe talk to your doctor about it as well.
C. Louise H. - diabled mom and Part time Latasia Jewelry Designer
