9 Month Old Won't Eat..

Updated on June 13, 2009
C.M. asks from Forney, TX
6 answers

My daughter is 9 months and only drinks 3-4 ounces of formula per feeding every 3-4 hours in her bottle. She was breastfed until a month ago- and she would eat rice cereal in the morning and evening. She refuses ANY kind of baby food at all. I tried mashing up what we are having for dinner and feeding her and she clamps her lips shut.She is 18 lbs- she is not fat but not too skinny either. We have a doctor's appontment Tuesday but I was wandering if anyone has dealt with this. My other children were great eaters. My baby makes a funny face like every thing I give her tastes disgusting, and I have tried her baby food it has a pleasant taste. Any advice would be appreciated.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

Hi C., I wanted to recommend the book, My Child Won't Eat, by Carlos Gonzalez. It has some great info about the reasons why babies aren't interested in food and how to solve the problem. You can read a review of the book here: http://www.llli.org/NB/NBMarApr06p76.html

Just remember to keep offering both food and formula as often as she seems hungry. Continue to offer her solid food at each meal, even if she refuses, have it available. Now that she is 9 months, you may try offering her tiny bites of soft finger foods. She may be more willing to eat if she is able to feed herself rather than having something forced into her face. good choices can be bits of banana or other very soft fruit or avacado. Best wishes to you!

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

Every child is so different. My first was a health eater and my second more of a grazer. Even when I breastfed her she would never eat a whole lot at one sitting. She even refuses her bottle in the morning b/c she doesn't like to eat first thing in the morning. Just continue to offer her food; formula is still the priority. She could be teething; that always affects eating habits. Good luck@

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

This same thing happened with my daughter. I was so worried. She just wasn't interested in food. Her doctor just kept saying, "She's going to be petite." which was very hard to accept because I am 5'8" and very NOT petite! My doctor was right thought. Her traights just didn't come from my genes. She is now fully grown at fourteen, 5'3" and weighs less than 100 pounds. She still eats very small meals. I wish I could follow her lead! She stops when her body says no!

I still recommend that you ask your doctor. Just because this was my experience doesn't mean your situation is the same. Good luck!

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S.

answers from Dallas on

Maybe you can try giving her a bottle less often, like 6 oz about 4 times a day, usually about every 5-6 hours and longer thru the night. My son(10 mos.) takes his bottle at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and one before bed and it's usually about 6-7 oz at each bottle. Then I just give a little cereal/applesauce for breakfast, a fruit and veggie for lunch, and sometimes a veggie at dinner. Maybe eating every 3 to 4 hours just keeps her full, so she has no interest in eating anyhting else. Good luck!

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

my daughters would never let me feed them. Try putting finger food on her plate and leave her alone. If she wants to she will pick them up and eat it. She can have baby puffs, cherios, bananas, green beans, little pieces of cheese, ect. i would start with the puffs, they are very tasty and disolve in her mouth especially as she is learning how to chew.

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S.K.

answers from Dallas on

Maybe she is teething. My daughter stops eating much at all before teething. When she was just on formula only she stopped too. It always drives me crazy because i don't see how she can be getting enough nutrition. But as soon as the tooth pops through she is back to eating well again. In fact for a few days she seems to eat extra (I guess to make up for all the days she didn't eat at all).

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