Author Topic: 10 month old (9 months corrected) refusing all food (Read 6167 times)

nippo · « **on:** June 05, 2014, 20:55:04 pm »

Hi,

My 10.5 month old has refused all food for the last 2 weeks.

I am not sure what to do, so far she has gone off all puree and completely refuses the spoon - her mouth clamps shut.

She used to eat finger food in the morning - toast fingers. But she now just squashes it between her fingers, or chews it and spits it out.

I've tried steaming veg, hummus all sorts of food but she just throws it on the floor.

I've put food in a bowl and given her a spoon but she just pulls the bowl off the sucker and rubs the contents over her head or it ends up on the floor. She lives chewing on the end without food on it, if she sees food on the spoon she just pours it out.

She manages a bit of yoghurt but has a few spoons then spits the rest out.

She refused food when we first started solids but she suddenly started eating and actually became a better eater than her twin sister. But now I am just so worried about how long this will last. She is eating so little she is now waking up at 4am hungry where she would usually sleep through until 6am. And she cries so wakes her sister up and we are all tired.

I dread mealtimes now. I have made my own food, tried packet food with lumps, steamed food and made veggie nuggets, courgette muffins and banana loaf for picking at.

She will eat rice cake, or finger biscuits but I can't just give her biscuits and yogurt... Can I? She needs to try everything.

creations · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2014, 18:29:27 pm »

Is she teething at the moment?
How much milk is she having in 24hrs (I'm assuming you are feeding at the 4am NW is that right?)
Has she had an illness recently?

There are many reasons a LO may go off food for a short while. It isn't a great worry at this age as her primary food is still milk but I understand your concern, we all seem to worry about food at some point. I would just keep offering her small servings, 1 piece of something, if she eats it then offer 1 more, rather feeling the frustration of lots of wasted food. I would also continue with the healthy options, and not be tempted to give her something less than healthy just to get her eating, when she starts eating again you want it to be the right stuff, and for those with a small appetite every mouthful needs to be nutritious.

Sounds like you make some lovely food for her

Hope you can freeze some of it if she isn't interested right now.

nippo · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2014, 18:44:51 pm »

Thanks so much for your reply.

I'm not worried about wasting food at all. I eat it all anyway lol!!

She takes 3 bottles about 21 oz's all together but I add an extra bottle mid afternoon if she won't eat lunch.

She is extremely active, but also only in the 9th centile for her weight. I don't mind too much as I was a very skinny child and a fussy eater - karma I think!!

Today I tried poached pears, porridge fingers and toast. She just flung it on the floor.

Lunch was pasta, tuna, hummus and broccoli - she had some pasta about 3 bow ties which I fed her. Although I left it on her tray so she could try herself. She showed some interest but chewed a corner then spat it out.

Evening she ate some packet baby food - the whole thing but it was puree rather than lumpy...

Better than yesterday.

I did feed her at 4am as I know her hungry cry and then she wouldn't go back to sleep - and refused breakfast which she loved!

My banana loaf (no sugar) was a bit of a disaster. She just crumbled it over the floor. I'll just keep trying I guess...

nippo · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2014, 18:48:20 pm »

Oh sorry - she is not ill and is very lively. She has two front teeth that are nearly completely out now so I think her teething pain might be over. She hasn't really had any real crying etc with any of her teeth.

It started when I started giving her lumpier food. She just didn't want it. I kept trying but she started to refuse everything including her favourites...

creations · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2014, 08:20:26 am »

Some LOs don't like the lumpy food, either because of the texture or because it is a bit of a surprise to find a lump in their mouth when they are expecting it smooth and they aren't prepared to manipulate the lumps.
It's ok to continue with smooth puree and finger foods rather than mashed and lumpy. Maybe look at the ingredients in the packet food if she likes that and see if you can make some of those flavours as finger food for her to pick up herself?

Would she take a smaller feed at 4am so she isn't too full for her WU milk and breakfast?
Are you offering water alongside her solids meals too?

nippo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2014, 08:27:27 am »

She has water from her sippy cup but likes blowing Raspberry's into it whilst drinking. So not too sure how much she actually swallows!

This morning I laid out a smörgåsbord for her of apple, one porridge finger, one finger of toast and a bit of banana loaf. She picked at a few bits. I think she ate a finger of toast and a bit of banana mloaf (although I think she might have chewed it an spat it out.

I think maybe giving her a few options might spike some interest....

Her breakfast is usually at 7.30 so she had quite a long time to get hungry. Our little girl just won't drink any more milk even if I give her a small amount at 4. She will wait until she is really hungry and then take her bottle. So even if I give her half a feed she refuses at 6/6.30 and will probably have it at 10...

creations · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2014, 09:56:22 am »

Maybe worth experimenting with the number of items on offer - as you say a variety may spike some interest, I know my DS at that age didn't like to have more than 2 different types of food in front of him, it was too much variety and he'd rather eat a meal of just one or two different things, then the next meal 2 other things. He wouldn't have eaten a 'balanced' diet in one meal with a few mouths full of each food group.

She won't starve herself, probably just needs a bit of time to adapt to the finger foods.

nippo · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2014, 11:34:21 am »

Today did porridge and finger food - toast. She had about 3 spoons of porridge and one finger of toast.

Lunch I tried pasta. Complete refusal. But she will eat fruit puree. Do I give it to her or am I reinforcing that if she refuses her lunch she will get fruit - effectively her dessert?

Thanks for your help xx

creations · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2014, 18:03:16 pm »

I usually had no rule about something being the main meal and something else being dessert when my LO was that young. I sometimes saw that a bit of fruit at the beginning of a meal whetted his appetite and he'd go one to eat his 'mains' afterwards. I mostly took the approach that I was going to offer these foods regardless of what order he ate them. I didn't increase the fruit portion size though so if he was hungry he'd have to eat the mains.
I would probably mix a bit of that fruit puree through the pasta as a dressing and see how that goes.
(I did limit fruit once and had a very frustrated LO for a couple of days but he was much older and his diet was becoming out of balance so I chose to radically reduce fruit until his other food groups picked up which they did within a day or two)

nippo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2014, 08:20:35 am »

Weirdly our girl was refusing food so I gave her some fruit to get her going and she took the main in between spoons of fruit. That seemed to work although all of it was puree...

She had a toast soldier this morning and all her porridge so she seems to be coming around to the idea of eating.

I will try some broccoli and hummus today for lunch.

creations · « **Reply #10 on:** June 09, 2014, 08:32:34 am »

lauradj · « **Reply #11 on:** June 13, 2014, 18:18:10 pm »

If it makes you feel any better, this is my world right now! I'm actually glad to hear you're going through the same thing.
I definitely sneak in the 'meal' between bites of fruit/yogurt/hummus. Yesterday I served him pork stew and topped it with a little dollop of unsweetened apple sauce every other mouthful. He managed to eat most of it before throwing up the left arm block. Good enough I say!
It's really really frustrating but I keep reminding myself that it's probably just as hard on them learning to eat all these different things. It's nice to know I have company!

nippo · « **Reply #12 on:** June 13, 2014, 18:43:58 pm »

Thanks Lauradj,

I only wish I could sneak it in between spoonfuls of fruit but my girl only likes savoury and hardly eats sweet. This was great at mealtimes as she would clean her bowl but now its a bit hit and miss, I've had one meal where I've done dessert - dinner-dessert-dinner.

I have puree days where I attempt to give her her puree but right now, lunch is a big no-no! And today dinner - she managed half then started trying to make herself sick!

I don't know why she is doing it, but she is doing little dry heaves whilst sticking her tongue out as far as she can!

creations · « **Reply #13 on:** June 13, 2014, 21:03:04 pm »

Is it gagging?

nippo · « **Reply #14 on:** June 14, 2014, 07:59:10 am »

No she just wants to force herself to be sick by sticking her tongue out. She did it again at breakfast and while she was playing on the floor. Not sure why she is doing it really, hopefully she will get bored of it...

She does like watching reactions at the moment so she will stick her nail in my arm and watch my face to see whether I scream, or look shocked. Right now I am not giving any reaction apart from explaining that it hurts and moving her away from me.

creations · « **Reply #15 on:** June 14, 2014, 18:16:32 pm »

Quote from: nippo on June 14, 2014, 07:59:10 am

she will stick her nail in my arm and watch my face to see whether I scream, or look shocked. Right now I am not giving any reaction apart from explaining that it hurts and moving her away from me.

OW! I'd scream ow and put her down immediately making it clear it really does hurt.

If you think the tongue thing is an experiment, fine, you know her best. Otherwise I'd be wondering about having her throat or tonsils checked to be sure she hasn't some discomfort there.

nippo · « **Reply #16 on:** June 14, 2014, 19:33:07 pm »

Pretty sure it's not her tonsils, she had no problem eating her favourite meal of fish pie today - even with whole peas in it which I was pleased about.

She is going through a phase of trying to get attention by digging her nail in arms, breast pinching

clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, and now trying to make herself sick. She only tried once today, and it was a half hearted attempt so I'm not too worried. I give her lots of attention and positive praise when she does good things. She had always been very independent and headstrong.

I'm trying not to worry about food too much, she ate two meals but refused milk today...hoping she will come round to loving food soon!

She has dug her nails in me ever since she was born. She used to fall asleep scratching me, or her sheets. I thought it would eventually disappear but 11 months on and she still loves scratching. The nail digging has just gone up a level. I did used to say OW! And put her down but she would laugh and crawl off to find something else to do. She doesn't really mind me putting her down - it's an opportunity to explore. And the ow is just the same as me going boo! To her

lauradj · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2014, 17:35:19 pm »

I've talked to a bunch of Moms about the whole feeding issue (it's the only thing I really stress about) and they've all said to try not to stress about it. It's hard but hubby and I have taken the mentality of "This is whats for breakfast/lunch/dinner, you don't have to eat it but that's what's being offered." If it's been a total no-eating day, we'll cave and offer yogurt or hummus but otherwise we stick to our guns because we're learning, at least for our guy, he's just not hungry at that time. We make sure we give him a slightly larger bottle at the next feed. I'm also holding off a little longer with feeding. I used to feed him at noon and five but now I wait until he's been awake for longer than 30 minutes and he seems more receptive to food.
My DS used to do a coughing thing that made us think he was choking but he was just testing out his vocal folds and seeing what sounds he could make. It took us couple days to figure it out and then we ignored it. Now he only coughs if he's actually choking. I have no advice for the nail digging, sorry! $:-\$ If you know how to hold a baby down long enough to cut their nails, I'd love to hear about it!!

nippo · « **Reply #18 on:** July 09, 2014, 18:06:12 pm »

Hello ladies, thanks for the advice.

Almost a month on and not much has changed apart from her eating her porridge in the morning. She spit out any lumps and I've given her finger foods and she will chew them and spit them out.

Apart from the porridge she will eat Ella's kitchen puffits. Today I tried a chicken and rice casserole. She would only eat a bit of it if granddad fed her tiny bits with his finger.

She is curious about food and always wants what her Grandma is eating. So we tried to keep some at the side of the plate for her to eat. She takes it, chews it then spits it out and goes back for more....

This has gone on for a week. I'm a bit worried about her eating Grannie's food as it contains some salt. I don't want her to get a taste for it. But if she will at least try it (even if it is just to spit it out) then I guess it better than nothing.

I just feel exhausted with trying everything and mealtimes are stressful for me - but I try not to show her.

creations · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2014, 06:50:21 am »

Sorry to hear this is still worrying you.

I wonder if you've had her checked for tongue tie? I've heard sometimes tongue doesn't show up until later, with solids introduction. There's a small chance a tongue tie could be causing her to spit the food out as she isn't manipulating it to where it needs to be in her mouth? It might be worth a check with your health professional, even if just to rule it out?

If she likes Granny's food but you are worried about salt levels maybe you could prepare some salt free steamed veggie batons and pop them on Granny's plate for her?
Otherwise I would just keep offering small portions. You never know, at her next growth spurt she might suddenly get a taste for chewing and swallowing solids.

Keep us posted.

nippo · « **Reply #20 on:** July 10, 2014, 07:48:16 am »

Thanks creations. They were checked for tongue tie at birth as Anise didn't want to Breast feed. She hates having the bottle in her mouth too. She used to push it out 3 times before accepting it even when she was starving.

Maybe I'll get on to the salt team at our hospital to make sure she is OK...I guess she is eating granny's food so maybe she just wants to be a grown up...

creations · « **Reply #21 on:** July 10, 2014, 17:41:45 pm »

Quote from: nippo on July 10, 2014, 07:48:16 am

I guess she is eating granny's food so maybe she just wants to be a grown up...

Yes maybe. Mine would never accept a plastic spoon even at 6 months old, had to give him a metal one just like the adults have. He did accept a plastic fork for a short while but that quickly moved on to metal too. And a real plate... luckily he's not the sort to throw the plate on the floor

Did you ask for a second opinion on the tongue tie? I only ask as I heard a fellow BWer had some difficulty in getting a diagnosis.

nippo · « **Reply #22 on:** July 10, 2014, 18:17:30 pm »

The SALT team at our hospital said I could call them any time but they have seen my girl at least three times with bottle and breast refusal. They were 100% sure that she had no tongue tie up until 6 months so I am quite confident that she isn't. And the fact that she can eat when she wants to makes me think she might just be asserting her independence. She really doesn't like change x

nippo · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2014, 19:09:37 pm »

Creations & LauraDJ,

We had a breakthrough. Last week our little girl started eating banana 3 months after we moved to lumpy food! It's been a long old slog trying to get her to accept table food but she is starting to (very slowly) come round to the idea that some chewy food might be OK.

The vast majority of food she still chews and spits out which I really don't understand. But she will eat Granny's pasta, banana, and grapes, and packet roast lamb dinner. For now, I'm satisfied. It isn't a varied palette and she still tries to swallow her food rather than chew but she is making a small step towards becoming a big girl.

creations · « **Reply #24 on:** July 28, 2014, 19:19:35 pm »

Lovely update

Funny thing is around 1 yo is when my DS began to refuse some of the foods he had previously eaten with gusto. I think their tastes are constantly changing so if you keep offering different things now and again there will be a day when she suddenly tries something new, then another, then another and her foods with broaden in variety little by little. I don't consider mine fussy because he eats such a wide range of foods but he's only recently agreed to try lasagne even though he liked every ingredient in there the way it is put together put him off before (he doesn't like mixed up foods but is getting better and doesn't like certain textures mince/rice/couscous).
Hope you're giving Granny double servings if she's losing it to DD

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Author Topic: 10 month old (9 months corrected) refusing all food (Read 6167 times)