15 Month Old Baby Doesn't like to Eat, Requesting for Help !

Having directed child care centers for a little while, I noticed that getting with other kids they seem to follow each other. Plus the power struggle or whatever attention she is getting by not eating or whatever goal is going on, it is interesting to see how all that disappears in a different dynamic.

Relax. Be concerned, but relax. (If that makes any sense.)

I would give her graham crackers to chew on and learn to chew .... this is how I started with my daughter who used to want to swallow instead of chew. Also, it might take time, but I would definitely get her on very firm schedule of eating, that includes eating in her chair for all meals, no snacks in between and definitely no bottles. 4 ounces of milk adds up. Bottles should be gone by 15 months -- even a year, really. They don't need as much liquid ... just enough to get those wet diapers.

You're the mom so be the mom ... you offer her the food and she'll eat it when she's hungry. You can't control how much she eats, but you can control when and what. Good luck.

I went through this with my then-11-month old. You just have to keep trying. Of course, we were working on table foods at the time ... and every baby is different. It's important to remember that children will not always have the same amount of hunger at the same time of day, and that there will be days when they are hungrier than others, and days when they are more active than others. My DD almost never takes more than 4 oz at a go. I don't really care. If she gets a total of about 16 oz in a day, that's what is important to me. But ultimately, she knows how much her little tummy can hold. If she doesn't want to eat or doesn't want to drink, don't force it. That will only create worse eating issues (and bigger battles) down the line. She'll get the hang of it eventually. If her growth declines on the growth chart, it says nothing about your parenting. After about 9-12 months, they all start to slow down a little anyway. If she is happy, if she eats SOME, if she's working on feeding herself (cheerios, etc...), and if she's drinking SOME, then it need not be a big concern. If she refuses to eat at all, if she refuses to drink altogether, THEN it's a concern, and you should contact your pediatrician. My advice, and FAR easier said than done, I know (BTDT), is to relax. Don't stress about meal times, and try offering her whatever you're eating for dinner in little bites. Offer a variety of flavors and foods. Mash things with a fork, if you need to, but try to avoid pureeing unless necessary. Try feeding from your plate or even with your spoon or fork. Sometimes that's all it takes, and they're off & running! (Also - if you haven't tried yogurt yet -- give that a go. I think all babies LOVE yogurt, and it's REALLY good for them. My now-12mo-DD still eats about 2 yogurts a day because she'll only eat small bites of whatever foods I offer her, and I know that this way, she's at least getting protein and adequately filling up her belly. It's not ideal, but she's not wasting away, either.)

Oh - AND - you may find that DayCare is the place she learns to eat well! It might be that watching other children her age eat will encourage her to do the same!

My first son used to do the same thing - I didn't start solid foods until later b/c he had so many food allergies - I think they get "lazy" - they like to swallow, etc. & not chew...he used to gag on the 3rd stage foods too...I would skip the third stage foods & just keep giving him the regular food not pureed - he will learn - the third stage is tough b/c it is a combination of swallow & chew & it confuses them...just give table food & he'll get used to it. If you have another one, you may want to try table food earlier next time (around 9-10 months) - I did that w/my next two & never had a problem.

Some kids go through that. But should have a doctor check things out to make sure bowels move right and nothing wrong with mouth, throat and stomach area. Fruits are good like the grapes and apples cut small pieces just so won't choke but will learn that has to chew foods that are good not just the junk food. Let them pick at the food. Not full courses at one time. Kids like to play not sit. So as they play ask if they want a piece. Also when you eat offer bites off yours. Everyone elses food is better than their own in kids eyes.
But do the doctor thing first and keep up on the weight thing. Whe the baby starts losing lots of weight then you have problem.

get her to a pediatric gastroenterologist. and soon! Your pediatrician should have recomended this already.

If you are still concerned, you might want to try taking her to a Feeding Program, there is a great one at Hershey Med. (I'm not sure where you live), but I also know people have traveled from across the country and also out of the country to be treated there. And some of the other moms are correct some kids do NOT grow out of this, I'm not sure which type of kid yours is. I know they also teach kids how to chew there, so maybe talk to your doctor and see if you can get a referral. They are also online if you would like to research beforehand. Good luck.

I do not have much in the way in advise, but I did want to let you know that you are not alone out here. My son is now 12 years old and is still an extremely fussy eater. It started when he was 9 months old, he began rejecting table food, he too would throw up food and would only eat the pureed baby food up until he was two years old. When I finally took the baby food away, he would eat things like Lance Peanutbutter crackers, pretzels, chips, CRAP like that, but everything he ate was immediately followed by a drink to soften what ever he was eating in his mouth. He is still like that today. His main course of meal is French Fries, from whatever fast food place you stop at. He will eat dry cereal, fruit loops (with a milk in a sippy cup on the side, the only way I can get milk in him is through that sippy cup) and cheerios with a glass of OJ. He still only eats crackers, chips, pretzels and apples. He has never eaten meat, never had a hot dog, never had pizza, has never sat down at Thanksgiving and eaten a meal. He is growing and gaining weight, but he is also sick alot with colds and things and he is ADHD. He is extremely athletic. The doctors told me that he will eventually grow out of it, but I am still waiting. My advise to you is, DON'T WAIT. I fear his wedding will be catered by McDonalds. I beleive he has some type of eating disorder, that is complicated by PURE STUBBORNESS at this point, but how do you force feed a 12 year old. There are alot of people out there that will want to give you advise and tell you, "if he were mine, he wouldn't be eating, he would stave first, or if he didn't eat what I put in front of him, he wouldn't get anything at all." Well until these people walk a mile in your shoes, they have no idea how they would handle the situation, and as a mother, I truely doubt they would let their child starve. My advise to you since your baby is so young, I would have her checked out medically and get this addressed now and don't make the mistakes I did and assume they will grow out of it, because he is almost 13 and refuses to try anything new.

A little about me:

I am a 42 year old mother of 2 teenage boys. I work full time in the Mental Health Field, and am currently seperated and going thru a divorce.

this may or may not help but just a thought....my son refused to eat for a time after he threw up a few times after eating. he had acid reflux disease..and the doctors figured that he started associating the pain in his stomach and throat, from the reflux, to food soo he didn't want to eat at all. He went through a few tests like bloodwork and an xray they wanted to make sure it wasn't anything else too serious...and the bloodwork was mainly to see if he had any bad allergies to food ....and at the end they gave him prevacid (the only med like that he can suck instead of swallow).... he was about a year then. he is still on it but the doctors said most children grow out of it.... just a thought and hopefully its just a "phase"

My daughter (13 months) throws up whole milk. I switched her to soy milk and she loves it and keeps it down. Other good sources of calcium- Yo Baby Yogurt, OJ (with added calcium, smoothies (you can use plain yogurt and fruits). Do you think she might be teething? Have you tried using a sippy cup or cup with a straw, maybe she doesn't want the bottle anymore? Keep trying the food. Maybe she wants to do it herself, but can't communicate it? Not sure. Try bananas, watermelon, meatballs, applesauce. These are all favorites of my daughters. Hang in there it seems to be a temporary learning process. We had two weeks of the hunger strike. Now she is eating anything and everything.

Does she have reflux?

Hi, D.,
I agree that it's a good idea to check with your doctor. He or she should have some useful advice. Also, you want to check where she is on the growth charts to gauge how serious the situation is or isn't. My son had a terrible time eating at that age -- he really had no idea how to chew. He started to make some progress after being given graham cracker sticks to kind of suck on and cheese puffs that pretty much dissolve in the mouth. (White cheddar are less messy than the orange ones.) It was a long time till he could even deal with cheerios. So, good luck. You want the doctor to reassure you, too, that everything else with your daughter is fine.

L.

Dear D.,
Is your daughter developing well in other ways? If she's at a healthy weight and fine otherwise, perhaps the problem is the pressure you feel in getting her ready to eat like "other kids" in time for day care? Believe me, all children have different appetites. Take a breath.... My mom was once told by a wise, old doctor ( she had the same concern as you do ), " On the third day, he will eat." In other words, your daughter's natural instincts will guide her to food. Do your best not to put too much drama into her balking. It may lead to an unhealthy relationship with food and you don't want that.
It sounds like you're a loving mom with a kinda picky eater. Give her and yourself a break. I bet going to daycare helps her sort out her dilemma :) She'll have lots of peers to show her how to enjoy her meals.
All the best! M. ( an older mama )

I had a child much like your little one. I would kindly suggest
that you limit any amusement in the area where you will be feeding your 15 month old. Also, it sounds like the child is looking for something or someone...lol You have to stick with feeding times everyday, no exceptions. Sounds like you may have
a picky eater om your hands. Or, you may need to start teaching her how to use her own utensils, that always does the trick.

Teach him how to hold the spoon and the lil baby fork, if you have them already. Babies at this age like it when they have more control over what they put in their mouths.

Have you considered asking your doctor if your daughter has a "hyper active gag reflex"? I have a friend with a daughter (now 5 yrs old) that I watched when she was an infant. This baby vomitted when you gave her certain food, especially after she started on solids and we never knew the reason. They didn't find out until this girl was 2 and half that she had a hyper active gag. Even now at 5 yrs of age she still has troubles with it.

Hello, My name is T.. I have three girls and the youngest one is 13months old. She is not a big eater at all. She has been in the 0-3% of the growth chart in her weight. I give her the bottle still. Her doctor gave her medicine for acid reflux several months ago. I believe it helped only a little.

I work hard at giving her very healthy items during the day and at feeding times due to she is not going to eat much. I give peanut butter crackers, cheese cut up, eggs, mix veggies, noodles, gerber snacks, and apple sauce to name many. I don't cut up items to small because she will not chew as well. If the items are something she can hold she does better at taking small bites and chewing better. I want her to feed herself as much as possible. Oh, I forgot mashed potatoes and oatmeal. I listed the foods my picky eater eats the best. I continue to try many other foods. I will say she started eating better after I started giving her table food vs. baby jar foods.

As far as teaching to chew I am not sure. I still just say chew, chew, chew to my 13 month old and 3 yr old. I make the action due to children like doing what we do.

Lastly, children are usually well better off than we realize. If the doctor shows no concerns that should help. Keeping fluids in them are most important. I still use formula "Next Step" per the doctor request due to her size.

Good Luck with your changes in life work-daycare.

T.
Mountaintop, PA

Hav you tried talking to her doctor about it? I'd just make sure that there wasn't a medical issue causing it but if not I'd let her eat as little or as much as she wants. Some little ones just don't eat much.

I wonder if maybe she has some reflux or allergy issues that are making her throw up and not want to eat so again I'd try to talk to her doctor about it.

I hope you get it figured out soon because that sounds so hard.

I also went through something similar with my daughter around the same age. The pediatrician told me to take her to a nutritionist or pediatric gastroenterologist at CHOP to get her checked out. He was concerned that maybe there was a reason she would not swallow the thicker foods. I told him she did fine with crackers and cheerios so I didn't think it was that but he said she can't live on Cheerios. I made the appointment at CHOP but they could not see me for about two months and I could not just sit and wait until then so I just had to do whatever it took to get something in her. One suggestion the pediatrician made and we still do it to this day when she will not eat for us is to slip a Vanilla Carnation in her milk. He also suggested the pedicare drink but she refused to drink it so I stuck with the carnation. My daughter also was bad when it came to holding her own bottle. At 12 months I switched her over to a nuby sippy cup with the straw and she sucks it down in no time flat. I switched back to stage 2 foods or pureed her stage three so she would eat it. I'm trying to remember what else she really liked at that age. I think pasta was a big hit. If she will not chew that up you can try the pastina or orzo with a little butter and olive oil and grated cheese.
We finally got in to see the nutritionist but at that point I had really been working with her and she was doing fine. I definitely recommend going to have her checked out just incase but hopefully she is just picky like my daughter.
My daughter is now 31 months old. She is in the 50% for weight. She is still a picky eater but things are much easier now. Some days she will eat a lot and but for the most part she is still picky but loves her milk.

Some other suggestions I got from CHOP: eggs, yogurt, humus, meatloaf or meatballs (you can actually puree vegetables and add to the meat while you are making) oatmeal, make a smoothie, experiment with the temperature of her milk and try adding gravy to meats.

Hope that helps.

HI am a 29 yr old with 3 kids ages 13,11 and 7 I have had
almost the samething happen with my son he only would eat cearal and nothing else,but once he was around other children his own age and saw them eating other things he wanted to try.Maybe daycare will help your child learn to eat by ex. Hope things get beter for you. If cheerios
is the only thing you can get your child to eat t least it is something dont worry to much it will get better.
Let me know how things are. Scincerly mamachef

My only suggestion is to try PediaSure - it is a nutritioanl supplement and tastes like a milkshake... it is just for kids - over the age of 1. Try it... that is what my daughter drinks... I understand that it has all the nutritional value they need.

Hi D. K,
My god son went through the same thing your child is going through. My sister-in law had to stop the pureed stuff. Her son did not know how to chew and refused to eat also. She stopped the pureed food and the bottle. 15 months they should have a bottle. My son age 29 now didn't have a bottle at 7 months. Start the cup, and start little meals during the day with real food. My god-son is now 8 years old and only eats maybe 5 different foods. Your baby's doctor should have told you to take your baby off baby food at 6 months and start feeling real food. It's going to be hard especially with you going back to work in another month the sooner you start the better for everyone especially the person who will watching your child.
C.

i would definitely ask your Dr about this. most children will eat if they are hungry.

if you can find a favorite food, like pancakes, it is easy to "hide" ground up meat and vegetables in these and put on a little maple syrup to make them tastey. Slowly make the vegetable bits a little bigger as you go along so she gets used to food she has to chew.