BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Eating For Toddlers => Topic started by: * Paula * on February 07, 2007, 21:02:26 pm
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My DS has always been on the lower scale with his milk intake, but things are really starting to get me worried.
He has never been a huge fan of his formula, and things have not been that much better since he weaned onto cows milk.
At around 17 months we dropped down to 1 bottle a day as he was just not drinking his morning milk.
He has 8oz in his cereal so was not too worried about dropping this bottle.
We have since weaned him onto a sippy cup, and he was doing really well drinking at least 6 oz before bed, but now things have just spiralled out of control.
He is refusing his milk in the evenings now - I get it ready and he just does not want it. He keeps on shaking his head saying he does not want it. I don't want to force him.
He has been ill for the past couple of days now, and his food intake has gone down too. He has become very picky with regards to what he is eating and is now refusing his yogurts (which he used to love) too.
He went to bed this evening not eating more than two bites of dinner and that was it - he would not eat anything else and again refused his milk.
I am not sure if the two are connected at all, but I am just really starting to worry as I weighed him and he has lost a bit of weight.
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If he has been ill, then it may take some time for him to get back on track again, but this seems to be an ongoing problem, right? I would probably take him to the doctor if you feel he has lost weight. If it makes you feel any better, Riley has been doing the same thing with his food lately. I had started him on vitamins with iron, but these seemed to upset his tummy and made things worse. And with his teeth again, he is just totally off.
Is it the milk in his cup that he doesn't want? Would he take it in the bottle? But I know you have been working hard to transition him to a cup.
Sorry I have no real help to offer, but will lurk here if that's okay, to see if anyone has any ideas.
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His milk has always been a problem with the amount that he would take, we always seemed to be dropping his bottles earlier than others. I don't want to go back to a bottle, he has seen them in the cupboard, but has shown no interest in wanting them.
I am not too worried that he has lost a bit of weight, as this has happened before, but I just can't understand how he can function without eating much food :-\
I am just wondering if it is normal for a lo of this age to actually go of milk.
I know that because he has not been well that is probably the reason that he is not eating much, but I can't help but worry.
Thanks for the reply Michelle :-*
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I have been concerned many times over Riley's eating patterns, his paed said not to, if this is the way he has always been, then that may be just the way he is.
As a parent, you can't help but worry. I worked as a preschool teacher for years, and saw how toddlers really could go through the day on barely anything. Their parents would be so concerned, and I remember thinking they were over anxious as the children were full of energy, running around. Now I am on the other side of the fence!
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I agree with Michelle...he may still be getting back on track after being ill. It can take some time, and even then, toddlers can survive on air for days at a time. Their appetites and food preferences are incredibly erratic and almost impossible to keep up with. I haven't been following your sippy cup transition. Have you tried making milk available throughout the day? Tyler used an insulated sippy that kept his milk cold and I kept it around so he could take sips of it during the day. He just didn't seem to be interested in gulping down ounces at a time, so that helped a lot with his intake.
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Melissa, thanks for the reply. I have tried to offer him milk throughout the day, but he generally only wants it in the evening (when he is in the mood to drink it). I will keep trying to see if that helps with his intake. Thanks.
I never thought of Smoothies Stacy - that is a good idea. He likes drinking from a straw, but the minute you put milk with a straw he spits it out ::) I really sometimes think that he just does not like milk. Will definitely try the smoothies this weekend ;D
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Smoothies worked really well for us too.
Liek you said though he ahs not been feeling well so that may be why. He may just not be hungry KWIM?
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I was also going to suggest Smoothies. Or maybe "no sugar" chocolate milk??? I think I have seen that at the stores.
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I tried chocolate and strawberry milk and he still does not seem interested ::)
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Paula i would just increase dairy in his diet until he fancies drinking his milk again. My T goes through phases of drinkign loads then none
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I have not tried other milks, it is definitely worth a try.
I have not heard of calcium enriched juices, I will see if I can find some to supplement when he is having a low calcium day. Thanks Stacy :-*
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I'd definitely try smoothies - that way he's still getting not only his calcium but his Vitamin D (which can be hard to get unless you live in a really sunny and warm locale). If that doesn't work, like Stacy said, maybe soy milk? The vanilla flavor is pretty yummy and the Silk brand is good and fortified and all. Calcium enriched orange juice is good for the calcium part!
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Thanks Karen, I am definitely going to try some smoothies on the weekend.
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Paula: I know TONS of toddlers who just plain hate the taste of milk. I would deft. give the Soy brand Vanilla Soy Milk a try. They also make a flavor called very very vanilla that some love.
Also, are you in the US? Since you are worried about his food intake, you could try Pediasure. It is expensive, but that is something the nutrionists recomenned to us when my lo was having problems eating.
Here is the link: http://www.pediasure.com/
In our case, he LOVED the strawberry flavor, but can no longer have soy or milk, so we are on rice milk.
It is worth a shot, just be sure to limit him to 2 things of it a day (max) so he does not feel up on it.
Good Luck!
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Wendy, unfortunately we don't get pediasure in the UK, but will definitely give the vanilla soy milk a try too.
Thanks for all the advice ladies.
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Paula we just had DD 18month check and they suggest dairy wise they need in a day:
1cup milk (8ozs which includes what you put in their cereal)
1tub of yoghurt
1slice of cheese.
I was giving DD milk in the morning 7-8ozs and in the after 4ozs. However she has lost interest in the afternoon milk so i stopped it no problems and she is now eating more dinner as well.
Could you try milk in the morning instead?
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that is 4 servings, 4 ounces of milk is a serving (so two of them is 8 ounces) , tub of yogurt (i think 100ish ml's) is a serving and a piece of cheese is a serving. So its 4 servings.
Oh ok i though i serving was a cup of milk :-[
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Paula--I just stumbled across a way to get Dave to drink more milk. Maybe it will help Tom Tom. His woodchuck puppet "requested" that he drink the milk--even handed him the cup, clapped when he drank, and gave him a high five. Dave thinks it's hysterical and has been drinking lots of milk before bed. :o
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Paula--I just stumbled across a way to get Dave to drink more milk. Maybe it will help Tom Tom. His woodchuck puppet "requested" that he drink the milk--even handed him the cup, clapped when he drank, and gave him a high five. Dave thinks it's hysterical and has been drinking lots of milk before bed. Shocked
Kim! That is great! :)
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Thats a great idea Kim, thanks for that - it is definitely worth a try.
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Do you get Lactaid Milk where you live? DH, DS and I drink that and I think it has a slightly "sweeter" taste than regular milk. Might be worth a try. It has all the same nutrients as milk just Lactose Free.
HTH!
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Well today he had a few sips from a straw in a big boy cup ;D Nothing to write home about but at least he has had a few sips.
Will keep you posted on how we get on tonight.
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Good luck!
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Every small step counts!
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:( No milk this evening again. He point blank refused it. I am going to keep on trying to offer it to him and hopefully he will start drinking it again.
I agree, even small steps count.
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I just thought of something. How about a milk shake with sugar free ice cream?!?!?
Sounds yummy to me! ;)
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Paula - if I remember correctly, didn't your LO have a hard time transitioning to milk with frequent infections, etc? At that time I had suggested that maybe he had a milk intolerance... Perhaps this is the case? I often think our LOs are REALLY smart and know what agrees with their bodies and what doesn't and maybe that's why he doesn't want the milk? I'd definitely recommend cutting out cow's milk and trying soy milk and seeing if that helps!
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Karen, He did have a lot of infections at one point and after stopping cows milk, our docs ruled it out, and he was back on it and drinking it and did not have an infection for 5 months.
I am hesitant on trying the soy milk as he is really prone to constipation and am worried that this may constipate him.
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Actually, constipation is another common symptom of milk protein intolerance...
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I did not know that - thanks for that info Karen :-*
Will give the soy milk a try and see how it goes.
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So we tried the Soy Milk, and no go - you should have seen the look he gave us.
I even bought some flavoured milks today to see if he would drink that, and still refused point blank.
I feel like I am loosing this battle :'(
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Sorry if you already told us this, but how about warming it a tiny bit?
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He used to only drink his formula warmed, and has always taken his cows milk warmed. I have also tried to give it to him cold and he just does not seem interested.
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Thanks for that info Stacy, I will definitely give it a try.
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What about giving it to him with meals?
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I have tried to give him milk with his meals, and he often refuses and points looking for his juice.
I am going to persever tomorrow and not offer any juice at all, as I am really getting worried about his intake of milk.
Will let you know how we get on.
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Good Luck Paula, but don't worry yourself sick over it. If he is taking cheese and yogurt, that may be all he needs.
Did you ever try adding choclate or strawberry syrup to it???
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Well we had no go with the milk at meal times today ::) I gave it to him, and kept on picking up his cup saying juce juce.
He did have a few sips from a straw this evening so fingers crossed this is progress.
The good news is that cause he is not taking his milk in the evening, he is waking up really hungry, and is eating 2 1/2 Weetabix for breakfast, and I can get about 9 oz of milk in there, so at least he is getting some milk.