My Son Wont Eat - San Francisco,CA

My son didn't eat much either when we switched from breastmilk to regular food. Try different brands of baby cereal or formula. My guy only liked ONE specific type of baby cereal. He never had any liquid formula, he didn't eat any of the food that comes in the glass jars. So I gave him breasmilk, baby cereal and moved straight to table food. It worked fine. He's 10 now, healthy and a really good eater.

Do you offer him snacks? Cheerios, graham crackers? He really should be starting whole milk too Instead of fomula. Rice cereal mixed with milk or water warmed up...you can mix any kind of baby food in with it. You really need to encourage the food and less breast milk at this point . He needs more. Talk to your peds about the weight loss and lack of interest in food. He may tell you to wean him on to whole milk. Good Luck.

Nope. My dad always says "a kid will never starve themselves." So even when my kids go through spells now where they really don't eat, I don't worry too much.

Your son is probably getting more active at this age too - and eating is no fun! Playing takes the cake, so to speak.

Have you tried cheerios, bananas, cheese sticks, apple slices, etc? Fun things he can eat with his hands?

Well, I really don't know how you "force" a baby to eat, short of taking them to the doctor to have a tube put in his stomach. I know it is important to feed baby healthy foods, but have you tried something a little more treat-like? Give the kid a cookie and see if that perks up his appetite (and thirst.) Applesauce? I wouldn't introduce a whole barrage of new foods all at once. I don't know what you've already introduced, so I am kinda shooting in the dark. Gerber makes fruit and vegetable yogurt melts that my kids ate like candy. Do you offer your baby a sippy cup? At this age, he may prefer it to bottle. I transitioned my daughters using the Nuby Sports Bottles. They loved those.

At 13-months old, some babies are too excited about their newfound mobility and other skills that they don't want to sit down and eat so much. They're too busy exploring the world. It is not unheard of for them to loose a little weight, but if you are worried your baby is loosing too much and not eating enough to sustain himself, take him to the pediatrician. He may have a stomach bug going on. Also, it is allergy season. If he has post-nasal drip, that can greatly effect the appetite.

Good luck to you. It is no fun when we feel we can't feed our kids.

If he wants to nurse let him & you want to, your supply will build back up if he needs it... also offer other finger snacks. There is a lost of little things you can offer - cookies, gram crakcers, Gerber puffs, Fruit Loops, Cheerio's, a long with some of the things you eat spagetti, mashed potatoes, mac n'cheese, ect. I have let my toddler snack a lot during the day... it may not seem like they are eating a lot, but they do eat more when they choose when to eat or snack. I have also feed them off of my plate - they seem to eat more when they eat the samething as mom. Even if it's baby food on my plate - they don't always know that it is different then want you are eating.

N. -

Not necessarily spot on, but our DS started refusing the bottle at 11.5 months. He altogether didn't want it, and wouldn't take milk, water, or diluted juice from it. He had been introduced to the sippy cup and decided that he prefered it to the bottle. Needless to say it made weaning a lot easier.
My point being, maybe it isn't what you are feeding him, but how you are feeding him. consider using some of those squeezy pouches, let him self feed, let him use a spoon, let him feed you or feed teddy while you feed him. arrange a playdate with someone whose child is feeding well. he will probably pick up on it more than you can imagine.

good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

Most children will not allow themselves to literally starve but some can get very thin. That is why there is a diagnosis called "Failure to Thrive". Continue to give him your breastmilk. Are you saying he wont eat any solid food besides the bit of formula you are giving him? I think we need more information like, will he eat puree? Table food? Will he feed himself? ect. If he wont eat any solid food at all I think you need to speak to your pediatrician and get some outside help. At this age they should want to try at least fruit puree with some cereal mixed in.

Nebeeha:

Welcome to mamapedia!!!

Kids will not allow themselves to starve. You can't force them to eat.

At 13 months - he can drink milk. Talk to your pediatrician about offering him whole milk.

Do you offer him healthy snacks? I know at 13 months my children liked Cheerios, crackers, cheese, applesauce, etc. I can tell you that offering him different foods is a good thing. Let him try many things!!! Don't "make" him a picky eater by only fixing a few things...expand his pallet.

Talk to your pediatrician to see what they also recommend for your son...

Good luck!

See if he will lick peanut butter off a spoon. It is very healthy - lots of protein.