1 yr old refuses to eat anything | ExpatWoman.com
 

1 yr old refuses to eat anything

283
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 16:16

Few days backs we started BLW (it took me so long because i was not ready for a messy baby and messy room every few hours!) and 1 yr old DS responded well and started to eat a good variety with touching, throwing, eating a few pieces here and there. Now from last one week or so he has stopped eating completely. He plays with the food and throws it all over but not a single bit goes in his mouth. If it does get into his mouth, he gags, coughs and throws up. we have got him checked him for throat infection but nothing. And the paed said its ok for kids upto 3-4 yrs of age to be picky and fussy, do not bother. We went to this paed for the first time (neighborhood clinic) as we are still looking for a paed, everybody is in a hurry! i know we may be way too concerned sometimes, but he is our first child and with no family support its does get difficult. DS has good weight may be that's why paed wasn't too interested?? DS is 10.8 kgs and in last 5 months has gained 1.5 kgs only.

Earlier too he was not a great eater, he used to eat, say, 5-6 small bites of bread (hardly abt 1/4th of a medium sized whole grain bread) but he ate. Few bits of fuits, veggies, some food from our plate he ate. Now, nothing.
I wanted to wean him off breast and had completely stopped breastfeeding during the day and continued with morning feed, night feed and sometimes dream feed. Now he demands bf all the time and i think i do not have that much supply. I just started with pediasure and i give him 200 mils in a day (100 mls each, twice a day) and trying him to drink cow's milk, which sometimes he takes sometimes he doesn't, total intake around 200 mils only. He doesn't drink much water, hardly few mils. if we mix juice he usually gets cough.

He diesn't eat properly, because of that doesnt sleep properly, has started waking up in the night because of being hungry and sometimes 200 mils of milk! and then the day routine gets screwed! its a cycle and last 7-8 days have been bad.
i am not worried about his weight but nutrition. Sorry about such long and confusing post!

1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 21:49
You're certainly not a bad mum, so really don't beat yourself up about that! Weaning is a big thing - it's the point at which we launch our children into the wonderful world of feeding themselves, instead of us being 100% in control! In essence, it's probably their (and our) first step into their own independence. Anyhow, the only other thing I can suggest is just to persevere. He's not wasting away so there's no great urgency... so focus on just the exploration (which is what BLW is all about really). Try really hard not to cut down on variety, as in only serving up what you know he likes... if anything, try more things, more textures, more spices... even things that you wouldn't necessarily think he'd eat (my two love smoked salmon... and olives, which is something I only started to like when I was in my 20s!). Shaf has been watching Supernanny too, after her advice of not watching them eat (how off-putting would you find that as an adult if a guest at your table just stared at you while your chewed!), but instead concentrating on the social side of mealtimes. Gagging is scary, but it is a reflex, and a very helpful one, at that! Your son isn't old enough to do "statement gagging" (like pretending to be sick when actually, you just don't particularly like something)... so it's either that he's just eaten a bit more than he can chew or that he's having a bit of difficulty with chunks. Did you start him on purées or is this literally the first time he's had solid food? How is he with things like yogurt or porridge? I'm not saying to drop BLW, but it may be worth considering adapting it to suit you and your son.
429
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 18:15
You could also give colorful stuff. For example, a bowl full of peas and corn is lots of fun :) Whole carrots, cheese sticks, cherry tomatoes, etc. And also, instead of watching your child eat.. just act normal. My blw DS eats better if his plate has the stuff he wants and we dont watch him.. ie, everyone is having a normal conversation, but not particularly watching wat he is eating.
283
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 17:20
Thanks HAK!! i was waiting for you to reply :) yes, i know its messy and now i am mentally prepared for it and handling it pretty well. After after meal, its changing clothes, sometimes quick washing of LO and mopping! Yes, i sit next to him and eat. I eat whatever he is eating (or he is meant to eat). Meal time, i actually give him food from my plate, whatever we are eating, we have started using very mild spices and very little salt. Like, breakfast if i am eating toasted wholegrain bread with salad, he gets the same! This gagging and throwing up is one thing that i am not able to understand. He is very moody about drinking from bottle too. He is exclusively breastfed. I feel like I am not a good mother and not able to feed him properly. :(
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 17:01
Do you sit with him and eat your food at the same time? That in itself is the biggest encouragement to actually try new things, plus it adds social skills. Even at 1 year old, I'm afraid you just have to be ready for mess, so do make sure you're not jittery or constantly cleaning up around him, urging him to be clean/ eat nicely/ etc... that's a fast route to freaking him out! It's true that they go through phases, but the trick is apparently to consider what they're eating over the course of a week, rather than making sure they tick all the nutrition boxes every day. Also make sure that you're not over-compensating with milk - even now, if I'd let her, DD would drink so much milk, she wouldn't have room for any proper meals. Make sure what you are giving him is high on nutritional value (so bread, crackers, etc.. in moderation) and healthy. He may find it easier with 5 smaller meals a day, rather than 3 big ones. They're all things to try, but if there's one thing Supernanny has taught me with regards to kids and food, it's often the parents who are key to both the problem and the solution!
 
 

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