Author Topic: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!  (Read 4582 times)

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Offline Syedoo

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11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« on: October 26, 2011, 00:14:54 am »
Hi,

DD used to eat everything as a baby. She ate all her veggies, fruits, cereal... Granted, she had reflux and started solids a little later as it would all come up, but when she was on her meds and was doing well, she ate perfectly fine.

I can't pinpoint when it started but in the past 2 months, she hasn't eaten very much! She only eats cheese, toast and yoghurt! Sometimes she may slip in a fruit here or there but that's about it! Veggies r IMPOSSIBLE!!

When it comes to meal times she gets very frustrated and holds her breath and kicks because she's so upset - and I think its my fault. I would try and force her to eat and as a rsult - she doesn't want to at all! I get so antsy when it comes to mealtime (as does she) because I try to feed her all sorts of things and she doesn't eat anything ... Banana pancakes, yummy sandwiches, pasta w white sauce... Nothing!

I tried letting her sit on the floor and eating some pasta shells on her own and she did but I really need her eating more. Milk is substantial till they're one - she's almost there!!

Please help me - so frustrated!!!
Thank u!!

Offline DSAN

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2011, 00:28:45 am »
Have you heard of Ellyn Satter? She's an amazing dietician who specializes in children. She has lots of articles on her website. Basically her thing is that there be a division of responsibility: you provide the food, your LO decides whether to eat and how much. Your right to think that forcing wont help, and could be making her want to eat less. I'm no expert but it has worked for me getting picky kids to eat (I used to nanny for several families through university). The trick is you cannot force, bribe, or cajole in any way. And don't be tempted to coax her into one more bite. Just remember a healthy baby/child wont starve themselves :)

Of course if you think there is an issue with her reflux you should talk to your Dr and get it sorted. I know my DS refuses food completely when his reflux is based.
Heather, Mommy to Dylan


Offline Buntybear

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #2 on: October 26, 2011, 16:35:33 pm »
I know she is nearly one but food should still be FUN! Try not to get het up over it or she will pick up on it. I have found most success when you sit back and ignore any fussing. Ignore the bad, praise the good!

Is it really just 3 foods she will eat? Have you tried toast with different toppings for her to experience different flavours?

Offline Lemonthyme

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #3 on: October 26, 2011, 19:28:29 pm »
Do you eat with her?  I find my son always wants what I'm having even if it's the same as he's been given.  I know around 11 months we had loads of teeth coming through too.  Perhaps that was the original cause?  I found occasionally when my son throws a paddy and everything is being chucked on the floor, sometimes if he sits on my lap for a bit of comfort, he'll then eat!
Here's my blog which is focussed on simple food for babies, toddlers and families http://mamacook.blogspot.com/

Offline Syedoo

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2011, 01:21:11 am »
Thanks so much for all your responses.
Honestly, I can confidently say I have tried everything - I have left her to eat on her own - she just screams the entire time. She loves fruits and bread (Not sandwiches but just bread n butter) - but that's it!
I've tried putting all sorts of things on toast but if its anything but butter she refuses to eat and moves away and starts getting upset. I've tried eating with her on the floor, feeding the teddy, DH and I would eat the food - nothing! 3 weeks ago she liked meatballs - this week she spits them out.
She's below the average weight for her age and I don't know what else to do! I just give her cheese, toast, yoghurt and fruits so she eats something!
I don't know if you have any more suggestions - but I'm all ears (eyes!). Should I go to a specialist? Is there a specialist for this?
Thanks so much. If I didn't have this site to turn to...I don't know what I'd do!

Offline Lemonthyme

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2011, 11:40:46 am »
Being below average can be ok.  After all there must be babies below average for there to be an average!  I would think a nutritionist would be able to give advice but she's 11 months.  I'm surprised how little my 17 month old eats some days, then he eats loads on others.

Have you tried keeping a food diary over a week?  Is it definitely that she will only eat these things or does it just feel that way?  Has she had her reflux looked at again?  Maybe she's getting heartburn when she eats large quantities (which is basically what reflux is and heartburn is nasty!)
Here's my blog which is focussed on simple food for babies, toddlers and families http://mamacook.blogspot.com/

Offline Buntybear

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2011, 21:14:45 pm »
I would just keep offering and offering! If she likes meatballs then make a batch for the freeezer and offer one 2 or 3 times a  week alongside other foods. Just an idea!


Offline DSAN

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2011, 17:30:23 pm »
I feel like (and don't take offence, I'm not meaning anything by it) you are looking for someone to give you a quick fix or magic bullet? I can tell you there won't be some magic method to get your daughter to eat well overnight. I'm not a registered dietician but I did a degree in human nutrition at university.

Here is my advice: as PP said keep offering. As I.said before do NOT force, cajole, or manipulate
in any way. To facilitate a life-long healthy eating pattern this is essential. Especially if food is causing her pain from the reflux forcing her to eat.will only make her resist trying. Go check out the Ellyn Satter website, see if you can find a dietician via their foundation. Don't panic that
sheis not 'average' as PP said this is OK as long as she is tracking along the same curve.

I know how stressful it is to have a baby that refuses to eat, my DS has been refusing solids for a month and a half, only starting to eat again this week as we seem to have finally reached an affective dose of omeprazole.

Heather, Mommy to Dylan


Offline DSAN

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2011, 17:32:58 pm »
Just remember you are trying to set her up for a lifetime love of eating. And also remember a healthy baby won't starve themselves!
Heather, Mommy to Dylan


Offline We Three

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2011, 17:43:54 pm »
 I agree with pp...do not engage in any power struggle over food, the child will win every time, because you cannot force them.  Keep offering, give her the things you KNOW she will eat, right along side what she used to eat, and some similar things to what she is eating. If she likes toast, give it to her, but right along side of it I would offer french toast as well..(eggy bread in some countries)...it is a familiar sight and texture, but would have the extra protein.  Will she pick at dry cereal like cheerios? Offer that with her fruit...just put it there, don't talk about it, or sing-song her about it, just put it down for her, and whenever possible, sit next to her and eat also.  Too often we Mommies put the food down and then go about cleaning the kitchen or what have you....when lo's learn by example, and we should eat and enjoy our food, and conversation that goes with that.

  Averages are just averages...nearly everyone falls somewhere above or below...please try to relax about this. Your dd is picking up on the anxiety and the expectation and the pressure...no matter how we try to hide it, they feel it!  Food is just for experimentation at this age, and that is just what she is doing. 

Offline Lemonthyme

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2011, 18:53:12 pm »
Oh, just to prove this point, today I was giving my son tea, he ate virtually nothing of his beef stew, cauliflower and broccoli (last week he would have finished everything).  When I said to my LO "would you like some pineapple now?" my OH looked shocked because last time he'd seen me offer pineapple two days before, it all went on the floor.  Today, he ate it all.  Go figure!  I'm no expert but I suspect the route cause of *some* fussiness in older children is refusal around this age and then the parent thinking "they don't like that" and not offering it again so next time it becomes some kind of big deal?

I might also be talking complete b*ll*cks!!!
Here's my blog which is focussed on simple food for babies, toddlers and families http://mamacook.blogspot.com/

Offline Mom-o

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #11 on: November 05, 2011, 10:47:47 am »
my DD is 11months too and we just are coming out of food refusal. I'd love to say what was wrong and how to fix it but time was all that helped.
I fed her what she would eat. If anything it seems she got bored of the same tastes and started eating other things!!
I also went back to baby rice with juice and water mixed in. I bought a suction bowl and let her go wild and feed herself. To my shock the spoon full of rice went straight in. She's been doing great since and sometimes lets me feed her!

DD also has reflux and definately has trouble eating when its not managed. The foods shes eating are bland and would help nutrilise the acid. Perhaps her dose needs to be looked at???

Mostly what I want to say is try relax. She will eat again. She won't starve.

Offline Lemonthyme

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Re: 11 month old food aversion - pls help!
« Reply #12 on: November 05, 2011, 12:15:48 pm »
Oh yes my little opinionated son decided he didn't want to be fed at all, anything from around a year.  He now lets me feed him sometimes if he's being a fuss pot and he's tired and doesn't want to do it (you know, spoons flying) but it's rare.  We're stick on bowl fans too (but when he's really in the mood, that has been flung!)
Here's my blog which is focussed on simple food for babies, toddlers and families http://mamacook.blogspot.com/