Don't think my LO is eating enough...

[meridot]

Hello,

My DD is 11 months old in a few days. We are having trouble eating solid foods.  One day is good, most days, hardly any gets in there!  She has a milk allergy so we can't feed her milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.  It is a huge pain in the butt!  We're hoping she'll outgrow it.  She was resisting purees but seems to be accepting the fruit / cereal flavors now (thank goodness).  She rejects pretty much all flavors of veggie purees except sweet potato.  All the jarred organic veggie "dinner" meals she has rejected (so picky!).  I made her food for a good long while and she rejected most of that too!  It has been a real struggle to figure out what she might eat.  Some days I think I should just offer a few things and if she eats it, fine, if not, tough... But then the other part of me feels I should keep trying different things to make a match.  It's just hard because one day she loves green beans; the next she won't go near them!  Anyway, here's what we're eating lately.  Please note that often this is what's offered, not necessarily completely consumed!

6am: wake a BF

8ish (hard to predict when she might be hungry, since her desire to eat fluctuates so much): Oatios (like Cheerios) and attempted fruit/oatmeal puree (I try for 3 ounces, rarely get it)

[lately she has wanted to BF at least once or even twice between the first BF and her first nap.  very confusing!]

9:45/10am: nap for 1.5-2 hours

11:15-11:30am: BF

12:30-1pm-ish: lunch of brown rice crackers, 3 ounces sweet potatoes or 3 ounces fruit / oatmeal blend; piece of fruit such as cantaloupe or mango (she has rejected bananas)

3:00: puffed rice snack ("Mum-mums") and piece of fruit, maybe some tofu if she's really hungry and BF

3:30ish: nap for 1.5-2 hours

6:30-ish: dinner, usually 1/4 of a Dr. Praeger veggie burger (the veg kind, not the soy meat kind), some tofu, 2 or 3 ounces sweet potato puree (if not at lunch), fruit

7:45/8-ish: BF before going to bed

8-8:30pm: bedtime

We are desperately trying to reduce her daytime naps and get a little more nighttime sleep because we'd much prefer her to go to bed around 7:30pm.  She's not having any of it, though, so we're kind of stuck at the moment!  Also, we'd really like to get her to start taking a bottle but she rejected when younger.  We only just last week got her to start drinking water from a bottle (instead of spitting it out!), so we're hoping that maybe she'll eventually take soy formula too.  So far she has not been receptive to breast milk in the bottle.  Any suggestions?

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Hi meridot,

As your lo is still under one I wouldn't worry too much about her solids. That being said you do want to get her closer and closer to having three solids meals a day and milk being more of her drink than her main meal.

One thing that comes to mind is do you think it is time to drop one of her bf's? I think most babies can go to 3 bf's a day at 10 or 11 months. My ds went to 3 at 10.5 months.  And then since she really likes bf-ing and usually takes it, i would do it:

- first thing a.m.
- after lunch
- after dinner/at bedtime

Regarding what to feed her at the solids meals, I would make an effort to include foods that she likes with a food or two that is new. If it is something that she seems to detest then don't offer for a month or two. But for the things that she shows no interest in, just give her every now and then.

She will not starve herself, so trust that, and if at a meal she just won't take food then I don't think you have to scramble to make foods that she might eat. I would be concerned that stressing at mealtimes could lead to giving her sugarey foods or too much of one food just to get something into her - which I don't think you should have to do.

If I were you I would also try many more finger foods, and let her pick them up herslef, experiment with how they feel, taste, etc. Even if she doesn't eat certain things she is getting the feel for the food. And if you eat it too then she might be more inclined to know it goes in her mouth. At this age I think it is very normal for her to be on-again/off-again with food choices as she's learning she can say no!

Regarding the sleep I will check in if you post anything on the sleep boards   And regarding getting her to drink out of a bottle, many this faq thread will help?

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64926.0

Keep me posted
jess

[Freya'sMum]

Hello Meridot,

Could you post your intro to solid foods story? Like when you first introduced them, how you found out about the milk (cow's?) allergy and how it affected dd (was she really ill?), has she had reflux or any other medical/health issues (is she sensitive to textures etc?), what mealtimes are like at your place (quiet, chaotic, eating together, TV on/off etc?) that sort of thing?

I'm wondering whether dd has any kind of pain/discomfort when eating now or in the past which has made her cautious, or whether she might have a sensory issue with textures; or maybe there could be an environmental reason for her disinterest?

Also, have you noticed any patterns to her refusal at all, time of day, who's present, anything at all?

Just trying to find out what she's 'whispering' to you

Ax

[suzannemoore]

Meridot,

I am having the same issues with my 10.5 month old.  When we started solids at 6 months old  LOVED everything I introduced to him. Now he will eat Cheerios, applesauce, and his bottles right now.  It is frustrating, but I know if he needed more food he would let me know.  I used to make all of his baby foods at home, but since school has started back now, I really don't have the time.  I just opt for organic purees.  He is very sensitive to texture except for Cheerios.  I am trying to introduce more finger foods at his meals right now, but not working well so I try not to overwhelm him.  I hope this will pass for you, as I know how frustrating it can be!   Hang in there, as I am trying to as well!!