Help with a 13 Month Old Refusing to Eat

Updated on November 19, 2008
D.S. asks from Buda, TX
18 answers

I am a first time mother who needs some advice from some of you seasoned moms out there. My 13 month old has been a really good eater until very recently. About a month ago, she refused baby food or anything fed to her with a spoon. So, I moved into finger foods and some pasta pick ups for her. I'm finding she's eating very little of that lately too. She is just picking at her food and mostly throws it on the floor and plays with it in her high chair. She's very tall and slender for her age and was born 5 weeks early, so I'm not sure if it's a phase or if there is a problem. She's still on Enfamil Next Step (I had to stop breast feeding early due to some health issues) and she is eating that with few problems. I hoped you all could give me some advice or suggestions.

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much for all of the great advice and help, ladies! I really do appreciate it and will take everything into consideration. My mind is more at ease now and I know where to go from here.

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A.F.

answers from San Antonio on

My kid were both picky eaters but ate well when hungry. My pediatrician recommended not to feed 'em just anything to make them eat btu wait until they are hungry and feed them nutritious fruit and vegetables. They will eat when hungry.
BTW, my kids are tall and petite too and eat small frequent meals throughout the day.

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K.S.

answers from College Station on

My 15 month old daughter started doing this around the same time. She started on finger foods, (adult food) right at a year and I stopped the baby food as well. Around 13 months she started being more picky and would refuse to eat one meal and then do fine at another. Its normal and she is starting to learn that she can control what she wants to eat and exert her independence. Don't worry, she will be fine. :)

K. mommy to Emma 15 months old

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T.E.

answers from Houston on

Don't worry it's a phase in her life. She loves the new texture you gave her and the way it feels in her fingers, and its hard to manipulate!! Just as long as she continues to drink her milk she'll be fine and eating again in no time.

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L.D.

answers from Houston on

My 2 yr old grandson is that way. He eats like a bird. When he was smaller I would buy those Dinty Moore beef stew microwave dinners..put them out on a plate, hold him and coax him through a few bites. He likes Jack in the box chicken patties and fries..most days..other days its chips and other junk food or nothing and I had rather give him that than nothing. Depends on his moods. They will normally eat enough. He is on target with his weight so guess it works. Try chicken nuggets, tator tots, chicken tenders, fries, etc. later the veggies can come. Daughter buys the snack pack and then after cooling it off, she rolls the top of the bad down and then hands it to him. He likes to do it himself on holding his food.

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D.B.

answers from Houston on

Unless there is some reason that she is needing to eat more--like concern about her weight/height from the pedi, don't worry too much. Kids go through phases of eating a lot then just a little. We can make food such a big issue if we try to force them to eat more, so I think if she is content and growing, let her continue to explore food. Maybe she is getting a lot from the formula still---nutrients, etc and doesn't need more. Especially after one, their eating slows. Talk to your pedi if you are truly concerned.

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B.P.

answers from Houston on

Hello D., I would try some little things like the deserts from Gerber, if you're not on the step 4 foods. She might be burned out on the foods you have given her. She can also have some ice cream a little at a time if there's not a milk allergy. I have two kids and my son started baby food at 3 months old. Also don't be afraid to talk to the doctor about ways to help her eat. As long as she's not losing weight and she can take a bottle or a cup, she's just going through a phaze. Another idea to try is the green beans and peaches if you've tried all the others.
I hope this helps a little more. You're welcome to email me about more ideas too. Good luck.

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S.H.

answers from San Antonio on

Hi D.,

Most babies eat less once they've reached a year. They are growing slower now. At toddler time she'll start eating less, too.

Her body is chemically/ hormonally equipped to tell her when she needs protein for growth, carbs for energy and fat for protection, energy storage, neuro-development and warmth. Trust her little body to know how to grow.

My kids, even as infants have been very, very thin and when they did that I kind of freaked out. But they are thriving, they are otherwise healthy, they laugh, they play... all good signs.

If she seems lathargic or cranky, I'd first check for teeth or a fever and then maybe consult her pedi.

Good luck!

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E.H.

answers from New London on

I am a mother of 3, and each of them were different. Our daughter, 13 months, eats what we eat, with a few exceptions of course. She decided one day that she was only interested in what was on our plates, and refused baby type foods. We just cut or mash it into small pieces. Let her use her own spoon to feed herself. It is messy, but she is probably just exploring foods. Try to revisit some foods at a later time. My 2 year old loves the pasta pickups, but when she was smaller, she did not want to have anything to do with them. She will not starve herself. Try offering frequent snacks throughout the day.
Good luck.

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S.O.

answers from San Antonio on

I wouldn't worry. Keep offering good foods. If she is really hungry she will eat. A child who is hungry, when offered food, won't starve. But, don't let her play with it. If she doesn't eat and wants to play, remove the food and tell her when she's hungry she can have it back. Don't offer her other foods either or she will begin some bad habits for later in childhood.

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M.R.

answers from Houston on

Sounds alot like my daughter was and she is now a healthy 7 year old. As long as she is continuing to grow based on her chart there is no reason to worry. How much formula are you giving her? If you are still giving her quite a bit that may be why she isn't hungry. I would also wait until she has eaten to give her the formula to make sure she isn't filling up on it instead of the food. With my daughter my ped. recommended doing a can of pediasure a day. I thinkly mostly to help me relax that she was getting everything she needed but you may check into that if you are still worried.

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S.C.

answers from Houston on

She sounds a lot like my daughter. When we started on finger foods and phased out baby food it seemed as though she never ate a thing! She wore her food, rubbed it into her hair etc. And then whenever my husband or I would sit down and eat she was right there going "bite?" It seemed like she was existing on 5 or 6 bites of food all day, plus a couple of milk bottles. She was clearly still healthy and thriving though so I didn't worry too much about it. Over the course of the day she was obviously getting what she needed. As long as you daughter is not losing weight, is well hydrated, and seems healthy she probably is, the fear that they are going to starve to death is pretty common among parents of toddlers for this very reason.

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Make sure she does not have a fever. If not...Just offer her food when you eat. Make sure it is healthy. Your child my be going through a phase, or may not be a big eater. She will eat when she is hungry and will not starve, do not make a big deal out of it.

Wait till she is a teenager and she and her friends eat all of the groceries in one day! You will laugh that there ever was a phase of not eating!

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

quit worring! kids will eat when they are hungry - just continue to provide healthy choices and don't give anything between meals (ie. sweets, high carb snacks w/ empty calories...)

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

Kids only really need to take in about 1000 calories a day right now. Usually, you won't get more than one good meal into them a day - the rest of the day is generally grazing. Kids can't tolerate just big 3 meals a day at this point - they do better with small healthy snacks every few hours. We keep cooked carrot sticks, cantalope, organic crackers, apple sauce, mashed potatoes, cheese, etc. on hand so our boys get used to a wide variety of tastes and textures and have plenty of opportunities to take in calories. We also put butter and/or olive oil in or on a lot of things to add some healthy calories. Since our boys won't try anything new unless they're allowed to "feed" themselves, we give them a baby spoon with each meal. They can't really do much with the spoons, but it seems to give them some sense of control and they will try things more readily. Also, I don't know about your daughter, but my boys began round 2 of teething around 1 year (they are 16 months), and I have found that they are much less interested in food for a few days when a new tooth is popping up. Good luck.

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L.B.

answers from Corpus Christi on

She see's you eating have you tried giving her some of the same thing's that you are eating. Let her see you cut it up and putting it on her plate or even let her eat from your plate also. Would not hurt to try. Good luck.

A.W.

answers from Houston on

My son is 16 mos & not a good eater. He's tall & slim for his age (his pants are either too short but fit in the waist, or long enough & huge in the waist). What I've figured out is that he will eat 1 good meal a day. Usually breakfast. A lot of food gets thrown on the floor here too! His pediatrician says it's normal & not to worry about it too much. My son drinks whole milk & loves it. But food just isn't something he's interested in. Try giving her the finger foods, cut up cheese, bread, pasta pick ups, cooked veggies, etc. Also my son will eat PB&J which I know isn't super nutritious, but supposedly they grow out of this eventually. My son will still eat baby food, so he gets that for dinner, but these days he only eats it with plenty of coaxing. The only reason I still give him that is because he won't touch a meat or veggie in finger food form. I'm hoping soon he'll grow out of this. Keep offering her new finger foods & I'm sure you'll find a few things she likes. Good luck, I feel your pain & frustrations.

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J.S.

answers from Houston on

Unless she is required y a doc to eat formula, I would limit intake of milke and juice, etc. She is filling up on that and doesn't need to eat, IMO. I have a 6 week preemie who is now 3 and that is what he did to me. Filled up on fluids instead of food. I would withhold the drink until he ate something then he get a sip, I would take it away again and then he's get more when he drank. I still have to do this at times as he would just slurp his drink down first and then not want to eat at meal time.

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K.O.

answers from Austin on

You know my first was born early and wasn't crazy about eating. I used to get really good at distracting her with interesting spoons, cups, putting one thing inside another, and just sneaking some bites in when she was totally engrossed. It worked really well. My 2nd loves food and never needed any assistance, they all come so different. Just don't let the issue become emotionally charged because she'll feel it and it could become a battle of wills. You want her to enjoy it and I really don't think she'll starve herself. Good luck! Also don't keep trying every 45 mins if she didn't eat, mine got fed up with that. Take her outside and with all that fresh air she'll be starving by the next meal.

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