My Son's Getting Taller but He's Not Getting Any Fatter

Updated on January 04, 2007
C.C. asks from Jamaica, NY
13 answers

I HAVE AN 11 MONTH OLD SON WHO ALL OF A SUDDEN WILL NOT EAT, THE ONLY BABY FOOD HE EATS ARE FRUITS AND CEREAL. SO I FEED HIM STAGE 2 CEREAL IN THE MORNING WITH A 6 OZ BOTTLE, THEN FOR LUNCH HE EATS ABOUT HALF A PANCAKE OR WAFFLE WITH FRUIT AND A BOTTLE AND THEN IT STOPS. CAN'T GET HIM TO EAT DINNER! OR EVEN A POST DINNER SNACK. HE SUDDENLY STARTED TURNING HIS NOSE UP TO EVERYTHING I PUT NEAR HIS MOUTH. I LITERALLY MADE HIM 3 DIFFERENT DINNERS YESTERDAY AND GAVE UP. IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO EAT, HE WASN'T GOING TO-- NOT EVEN HIS MILK. I UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S JUST A BABY, BUT WITH WEANING HIM OFF FORMULA JUST A MONTH AROUND THE CORNER, I FEEL LIKE HE NEEDS TO EAT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS EATING. I'M NOT THAT BAD OF A COOK. ANYWAY, WHAT SHOULD I DO? HIS WEIGHT HAS BEEN THE SAME FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HIS POOR EATING HABITS ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON ME.

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So What Happened?

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE ADVICE GIVEN AND THE ADVICE TO COME. A LOT OF YOU HAD VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WHICH WAS VERY HELPFUL. I RECENTLY TOOK MY SON TO HIS GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE AND HAD HER TRY HIM ON DIFFERENT FOODS(THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OR KNOW HOW TO COOK), BUT WE STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN SHE TOLD ME THAT HIS FATHER WAS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, HE WAS A VERY SLIM BABY AND A SMALL EATER(WHY DIDN'T HE TELL ME THAT). SO I'M WORKING WITH HIM. HE LOVES TO EAT RAMEN NOODLES, WHICH I'M NOT TO CRAZY ABOUT, SO I JUST ADD POTATOES,CARROTS, AND PIECES OF CHICKEN TO INCREASE THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE. HE IS A VERY ACTIVE BABY AND MAYBE HIS METABOLISM IS HIGH, I WON'T WORRY AS MUCH ANYMORE. THANKS EVERYONE :)

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W.R.

answers from New York on

My doctor's advice has always been as long as they eat one good meal a day they will be fine, my daughters weight has always been on the 50th percentile but my niece was always very thin until about 3 months ago when she started eating everything in site and now her clothes fit a lot more snug (at 3 1/2 years old). We always joked even called her skinnie minnie but not any more so it may just take time.

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J.N.

answers from Binghamton on

My daughter is very tall and very small (12-18 mo) around, only 23IBS at 2 years. She has the best apprecition for food I have ever seen in a child. Your son will not let himself starve. Make sure you keep very healthy snacks around for when he does decide to nibble on something. Although some food combinations sound not appeticing to us, doesn't mean he will feel the same. Growing up I would only eat yogurt, so my mother would give us broccoli or even chicken on the side to dip in our yogurt and it got us to eat it. He is to young to decide if you are a bad cook or not, so be persistant in giving him lots of different kinds of food, and keep sweets at a bare minimum...it does pay off in the long run. My daughter would much rather have a bowl of rice and beans than ICE CREAM. Don't freak out if he chooses not to eat sometimes, he may be having a growth spirt. Good Luck.
Jess

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M.T.

answers from New York on

ok well.. nice to meet you and i must say ... dont worry.. this is your first so you have many more of these situations ahead of you.. my first whom is 4 now was the same way.. at about 10 months she stopped eating entirely and the doctor told me so... when she wants to eat she will.. she was off formula at 1o months and went to food and whole milk (which is very filling for a baby).. baby foods and the occasional people food as well.. once she started to walk she got her appetite back and there was no stopping her.. just be patient.. i now have an 11 month old and she is strting to do the same but this time i will not worry.. when she wants to eat she will and she is allready furniture surfing so walking is right around the corner so is her appetite.

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C.B.

answers from New York on

Don't worry about it so much, his body will take what it needs. Trust, he will not starve himself. But if it bothers you that much talk to your ped about possible supplements. All kids go through this stage. It evens starts as you as a few weeks old sometimes! Don't worry, his body will take in what it needs. relax! your doing a great job by just keep offering food to him!

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A.G.

answers from New York on

talk to your pediatrician

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M.M.

answers from New York on

I am in the same situation. My son is going on 3 years old, and recently I was accused by my in laws that I was not feeding my child. As you might imagine, I was furious. I did notice that he was slimming down, but his height sky rocketed. I took him to his dr. and she suggested pedia sure, well my son doesn't like it. So what i do is make him smoothies with his favorite fruit. And his doctor also told me to give him whatever he asked for(he only likes hot dogs, chicken nuggets,and french fries and pancakes). So at 10pm he sometimes ask for pancakes and I give it to him. I also was told that if they (meaning children) notice you are getting bent out of shape about them not eating they will do it to you all the time. Just let him know that you will not get upset that he doesn't want to eat and when he is ready he will let you know. I also have a variety of things for him to eat beacuse they are at a stage where they want to make dicisions for themselves. Eating what he wants to should be ok. Your son will come around, just be patient. Hope my experience was helpful.

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J.B.

answers from New York on

My son was the same at that age. The trick is to just keep offering the foods- you'll see him reject it once or a million times and then later it will be his favorite for awhile. Towards the end of the night, you can try giving him some "pediasure" type shake thing- the bottle with the bear on it-my son likes the strawberry. That way if at the end of the day he hasn't had much to eat he will get some balanced vitamins. you can also mix it with water- my son doesn't know the difference either. so he'll get the vitamins. But don;t do it until near the end of the day- the babies will fill up with the milk or liquids and then they won't eat. you can also get those mini eggo tini toaster waffles- the shapes trick them into thinking they are getting more fun. you can also try the baby yogurt yo-baby. you'll see eventually that his body will regulate himself and when he gets hungry enough he will eat. the pediasure is a good thing for you though- to ease your mind a little and also he will get vitamins if he is missing the nutirents from the food. they actually have really small stomachs too-so they won;t be eating a lot. your doctor will tell you also if they think he is not getting enough somehow. you're doing a great job :)

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S.R.

answers from New York on

My son is 4 and his lack of eating has been going on for 2yrs..I was worried just like u are but every time we went to the doctor they told me he was fine, he just has a very high metabolism.....I was still worried so what I did was buy him Pedia Sure and he loves it so I keep some on reserve for those nights when he doesnt wanna eat...Dont worry it will change.

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S.S.

answers from Utica on

well my son went through the same thing... im not quite sure if its normal but it happens... start weinging the formula now... and he will get hungry my son is going to be three in 2 wks and he is going through teh exact things all over again... kids will be kids is what my mom says

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A.M.

answers from New York on

Talk to your childs doctor. My son is 3 and he is like that. He doesn't like to eat a whole lot. U just have to keep trying. Focus on foods that he already likes

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J.V.

answers from New York on

I wouldn't worry about the food factor, but if he's not taking even his formula or milk after lunch, then definately talk to your doc. My ped told us babies get all the nutrition they need from the formula - so eatting baby food/table food is simply for them to learn how to eat it, different textures, flavors etc. Not really for the nutrition (at least not at first). Have you ever tried those puffy dried fruits/veggies? Or even Cherrios - kids love those. Maybe it's teething too? If his mouth hurts a bit he may not want to chew/gnaw on anything. I got one of those teether things (with a mesh bag on the end - babies r us) and used to put frozen banana, grapes - or just pieces of apple really you can do any fruit or veggies because the mesh traps all the skin/seeds etc. My son LOVES that!!!! Good Luck!!

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M.W.

answers from New York on

I think its time to stop with all the baby food and start feeding table food. if he has teeth, he will know how to mash the food. dont give him anything that will be to difficult to chew. you can always mash the food. i have a 3 year old boy and a 15 month old boy who was 3 months premature. my 15 month old weighed 1 lb 15 oz when he was born. now at 15 months old he is 22 lbs. i started him on most table foods a few months ago. Does the doctor say thre is a weight problem? if not dont worry about it to much. kids go through growth spurts. Dont let your self feel any pressure, we all do the best that we can. we put to much on our self's because we want the best for our kids. Hang in there.

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A.H.

answers from Buffalo on

Both of my children did the same thing. I went to their pediatrician and he said they will eat when they are hungry. They get to a certain age and they just get picky. They do grow out of it. Your child will not starve himself. Don't make lots of different meals, just put the food down for your child if he doesn't eat then that's fine. After awhile he will start eating again for you. Just be patient.

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