My baby won't eat solids anymore

[hlc662]

My daughter will be 8 months tomorrow.  For the past few months she has been a great eater!  She would eat almost 2 jars of babyfood at each feeding.  For the past two days she will not touch babyfood and will only take a few ounces from her bottle.  She has no other symptoms.

What could be going on?

[colenliam]

hi,
I just went though that with my 6 month old(I know it is a little different with an 8th month old)
It was really fustrating for me and meal time became a big fight, then I thought that he is going to accociate meal time with unhappy time.
with some advice from other moms on this forum, i backed off and let him run his own coursr, although not stopping what I usually did, meaning, I still offered him his food at the same times, and laughed a lot at him, and pretending I was eating it to.  i also made a point of eating my meals in front of him, and let him try food of my plate(mashed potato say)
It took about 1.5-2weeks for him to start eating again and we ar right back to happy meal times.
don't know what caused it, thought maybe teething but wasn't really showing any signs as he had cut 2 teeth the week b4.
stange little creatures they are
hth

[Lucysmom]

I don't know if it is any consolation, but my 8 month old dd is doing the same thing.  She was never a fantastic eater but she loved her bottles.  Today she has barely had anything from her bottles.  Her last bottle of the night she drank an ounce and a half.  That is it.  She has been waking up between 3 and 4 am and downing an 8 oz. bottle.     We're stumped and don't know what to do.  I will be curious to see if anyone has any advice or if this is just a phase 8 month olds go through?    You have my sympathy!

[cwolff]

We are having the same problem with her bottles!  Today she barely touched her bottles, and wasn't even crazy about solids either.  Lately it has been a struggle for some of the bottles, and we finally decided just to drop the 4pm bottle and see if she would eat better at bedtime.  This worked, but I worry all day long that she has to drain her 3 bottles or she won't be getting enough nutrients!  It must seriously be a phase, because my DD wants to be on the move all the time and I think sitting still and staring at me or whatever is just way too boring for her.  Hopefully this will pass.

[C-line]

Wow - my son just turned 8mo old 2 days ago and I'm having the same issue!  He does take his bottles still and will eat yogurt but that's it.  He used to eat virtually EVERYTHING.  So wierd!  I'm thinking its a phase as we are getting more into finger foods (like cheerios, cheese, etc.) but also that its some sort of exertion of independence?  I wish I knew for sure.  There seems to be so much change going on right now (teething, crawling, etc.) that its hard to say.

I wish he'd eat, but its nice to know we're not alone 

[cwolff]

I think it's an independence issue myself.  And she's just so interested in other things.  Like today I had to give her the remote control to pound on while she had her bottle in order for her to sit still.  I'm already resorting to bribery!  Of course then she had to see what fun it was to bang it against the bottle, so we had to put it away again.

[tylersmommy]

I'd imagine that it's either a phase or teething discomfort. Around 8 mo, you'll start to see lots of budding toddler behaviors, and food is a pretty common battleground. Your best bet is to try not to force the issue or make a big deal out of it. Appetites and preferences can change almost daily, so this probably won't last long. The novelty of mobility and natural curiosity about what's happening around them make mealtimes a real pain...they're waaaay too busy to sit still. In the meantime, try to respect your LO's appetite and remember that healthy babies don't starve themselves (there are STILL days that I have to repeat this over and over!). Offering finger foods can often give them a sense of independence, and ending mealtimes when it's clear they aren't going to eat any more can help them feel more in control. Of course, if you see a significant drop in weight or signs of illness, that's another story. Hang in there!!

[Lucysmom]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Just need to vent here!  It is just sooooo annoying to me that she will drink a bottle like a champ in the middle of the night and yet not do the same for any of her day time bottles.     She woke up last night at 2:30 fussing, not crying so I left her.  Well, finally at 4 am (yes, 1.5 hours later  ) she does a real cry so I go in with a bottle.  It is enough water for 4 scoops of formula but I only put in 3. I read in the nightwakings forum that gradually decreasing the amount of formula in night time bottles is a way to eliminate the night feedings.  Anyway, she drank the bottle and eventually went back to sleep.  Just now (4 hours later) she will only drink 4.5 ounces.     Good thing I came here and read Melissa's advice as I did kind of get angry with Lucy just now. 

How is everyone else getting on?  Thanks for "listening". 

[Mom2X&F&V]

Geee!!!!    I hate milk!!!! My baby now does not want milk at all!!!! She used to have 6 oz in the morning... now... none, but worst of all she used to have 8 oz at night for sleeping...now... none!!!!! She really cries out loud! So the only way she had her milk was putting her to sleep and then 10 min later I went to pick her up and she drank her milk asleep... all of it! Guess thats the only way sheŽll eat now... Solids are OK but I hate giving or even trying her milk.  The thing is that this started exactly when she became 8 months... 3 days ago!!! Hope this pass and she takes milk back again... And I thought I was alone too! Good Luck!!!

[Lucysmom]

Perhaps we should start a support group called "Freaking out Moms of 8 Month Olds on Eating Strike"!   

It really does help to know that I am not alone!

[C-line]

LOL Melissa!  I'd join the group 

I have a bit of an update:  Caleb at a whole jar of rice/lentil last night and some squash - I'm very encouraged. So we have a diet at the moment of oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and "maybe" some rice/lentil and a little veggies.  He ate the least from his bottle in a really long time yesterday and was also really cranky so I'm thinking teething is the culprit and still feel it's also and independence thing.  Anyway, this too shall pass right?

[C-line]

Oh and THANK YOU Melissa (tylersmommy) for the info and encouragement!

[Lucysmom]

When Cwolff mentioned giving her dd the remote control while having her bottle, I decided to try the same sort of thing.  I have been giving Lucy a stuffed animal to play with while I give her her bottle.  And so far it has worked!     So I think she was just bored with laying in my arms while drinking.  Solid food is still not going great.  I did give her the spoon with food on it so she could taste the food on her own terms.  Made quite a mess but after I did that she did allow me to put a few spoonfuls in her mouth. 

She did wake up at 4 am  and I gave her a watered down bottle of formula.  I hope this stops now that she is drinking/eating more.

C-line - Is the lentil/rice a pre-made baby food or do you make it yourself?  I would like to try something like that with Lucy but have not found it pre-made.  I suppose I could search out a recipe but it would have to be milk-free as I have reason to believe Lucy is lactose intolerant or allergic.

I hope everyone is doing ok and remaining relatively sane! 

[C-line]

Hi again!

Yes, the rice/lentil jar I get is made by Earth's Best (organic baby food that I get at Whole Foods or Wild Oats).  It has apple and something else in it too.  It smells horrendous but Caleb has alwasy liked it.  Unfortunately, all the baby food I made for him, he wouldn't eat!  He likes the jars better 

You know it occured to me today I should mention occupying the baby a little bit while bottle feeding.  I'm glad its helping!  Caleb gets restless and fidgety too.  If I give him a toy he often gets way distracted so I actually started propping the bottle while he's on the changing table.  I know this sounds wierd but he loves it and often he'll only eat 2-3oz while in my arms, but downs a few more while on the table.  I think he's more comfortable?   He likes to hold the bottle and feed himself now too.  So he feeds himself while I change him, LOL.

best,
Caroline

[Mom2X&F&V]

Hello I just wanna know how is everyone doing with the solids issue? Dd is eating ok ant only drinking 14 oz of milk a day... it is better than before... Remote control was ok for some days now she loves to play at her night bottle with a huge Lamaze rattle... hope it lasts a little bit more the new distraction!!!!