My Baby Won't Eat! - Jacksonville,AR

Updated on April 20, 2010
C.M. asks from Rangely, CO
5 answers

Hello everyone, My baby is 8 months old and he will not eat . In the morning he can manage about 3-4 oz and a jar of food and that is the only feeding that he doesn't completely refuse. I wait for 4-5 hours and then try to feed himn and he fights me tooth and nail. This has been going on and off for 1 1/2 months now. He has had many ear infections since birth and right now he has a sore throat, cough, runny nose, and an ear infection. I have tried everything to get him to eat and he will get about 2 oz down after fighting it for 45 min. He never wants to eat and I'm afraid he is going to lose the weight that he gained after being sick the last time. he was 17 lbs last time he was weighed which was about 4 days ago. I have tried giving it to him in a cup, sippy cup, through a straw, I have tried distracting him with toys and walking around and letting him play with things around the house. I had to start adding rice cereal and or jar foods to his bottles to even get him to take it at all. If anyone has any suggestions or similar problems I would love to hear it.

Thank you all for the suggestions. The doctor did mention that he might be feeling a lot of weirdness in his ear because he has tubes now and with the infections. I usually give him a bottle first and then the formula but like this morning he would not take the formula at all and then a few minutes later I offered pears and luckily he took that. I give him tylenol every four hours cause thats what the pediatrician said and I have offered him gatorade, apple juice, water, and pedialyte and he won't take it through a bottle but he will take a few swallows in a cup. I think maybe a lot of it has to do with me getting so frustrated and so he does and decides not to eat. I am so worried about him but I know I need to be strong. He had mastoiditis when he was 1 month old and that was a really big deal and they were talking about surgery but ended not having to do it because the antibiotics took care of it, but since then he has been sick on and off and I just want to see him healthy. But he is always so happy no matter whether he's healthy or sick. Should I continue trying to get him to take the bottle even after 30 min of him refusing and fighting or just wait until later? He is so tall and skinny and most babies I see that are his age are so much bigger, it makes me feel like a bad mom because I don't want people to think that I am starving my kid.

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

It's formula that he won't eat and the doctor actually told me it was fine to add the rice cereal or jar food to his bottle, before he wouldn't take it at all and it supposed to help with his reflux. I actually used to feed him every 1 and 1/2 to 2 hrs and he jsut wouldn't take it so thats why I wait 4-5 hours and he still won't take it. He won't take pedialyte either.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

C., I wouldn't add any foods to his bottles. I am assuming he is formula fed? Give him his morning bottle and in about 2 hours, offer him some soft, easy foods, like formula soaked puffs, cheerios, soft fruit baby food. Maybe 4-5 hours is too long and he is very hungry and frustrated? I don;t know, just an idea. Will he take pedialite? Have you talked to the nurse at your pediatrician about this? If not, I think you should make a call. It's common that babies don't want to eat/suck/drink when they don't feel well. Are you able to get his ear infection meds into him? I think avoiding dehydration should be your first priority, after clearing the ear infection....you'll feel better after you talk to the nurse. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Boise on

When my son has an ear infection, or sick, he doesn't like to eat. Milk was his comfort food. Will your son eat drink that? If so, stick to that while he is sick, unless he wants more. At 8 months the food is just to experiment with. Milk is the nutrition. I also suggest the bottle first before offering any other foods, and again, if he doesn't want them, don't worry as long as he is drinking milk and isn't dehydrated.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I wonder if he is teething?
When teething, both my kids as babies, did not eat/feed as well. It is uncomfortable for them.

Do you mean that he is rejecting his bottles AND solids? Or just rejecting his solids? I wasn't clear on that.

He is also sick, and when sick their appetite gets affected. So that is also a possibility.

How is his pooping and peeing? Is he having enough wet diapers? Since you said he is not "eating".... you need to watch that he does not get dehydrated. Dehydration in a baby can be real serious. Thus, make sure he is having at least 8 wet diapers a day... I think that is the guideline....

You need to tell your Pediatrician... since he does not seem to take any solids nor bottles.

Okay I just read your edit: are you feeding him his bottles before or after solids? If the bottle is given after solids... he may just be too full to take his bottle. That often happens. So the recommendation is to give bottles FIRST... before any solids. For the 1st year of life though, breastmilk or solids is a baby's primary source of nutrition, not solids and not other liquids. Per our Pediatrician.
Maybe he is teething? As I mentioned, for my kids, that is the time that they would reject nursing and/or the bottle.

All the best,
Susan

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from Topeka on

I wonder if he is suffering from allergies...and the sore throat, runny nose etc are signs of the allergy? I wonder if you could give him some infant tylenol or ibuprofen 30 minutes before you try to feed him, if his throat is sore or he isn't feeling well, that maybe effecting his desire to eat.
I agree with the other Moms...give him the bottle first...then the solids...the formula is the main source of his nutrition at this age.
I also think I would contact the doctor to see if he needs to be seen, you want to be sure he isn't getting dehydrated and they can weigh him and give you a clear idea of whether he is losing weight or not.
Good luck!!

A.P.

answers from Florence on

You've probably already thought of this and maybe even talked to the doctor, but I know that the sucking motion can cause pain if the baby has an ear infection. Maybe try giving him some tylenol 30 min or so before offering him some food. Try to get him liquids any way you can. My doctor told me I could use soda, juice, or water if I didn't have pedialyte. They also have pedialyte popsicles you could try.

My son is 8 1/2 months old and tall and skinny. He takes 3-4 6oz bottles a day. After at least one feeding during the day he eats one jar of baby food mixed with rice cereal. For lunch he eats 2 jars of baby food mixed with rice cereal, and throughout the whole day he drinks maybe 2-3 sippy cups of really watered down juice and snacks on goldfish and animal crackers. He also eats off of my plate if he sees me eating anything.

Offer him food anyway you can. It may just be because he isn't feeling well, but at the very least the liquids will help with the cough and runny nose and keep him from getting dehydrated.

Hope this is helpful and not just more information you already knew! Good Luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions