11 month old won't eat - what do I do?

[babybore]

My dd has over the last month gradually been developing a problem with food. We are now at the point where I put her in her highchair and she will play happily with some keys but when I try and feed her she puts her hands to her mouth and starts screaming. I usually give her finger food instead of something to play with before I start feeding her and she generally just plays with it or throws it on the floor but occasionally some will go in.

I have been giving her normal food which is quite soft like moussaka, scrambled eggs, houmous, baked beans, stew etc and for a couple of months she has been fine with this.

Last week she had a cold and a hacking cough but that seems to nearly have gone and it has seemed like an issue that has gradually got worse rather than her suddenly going off her food. She doesn't yet have any teeth but tbh she has being showing signs of teething for so many months, I have given up on that as a factor.

She is fairly resistent to having things done to her eg hates being dressed/changed and I think that in the same vein she doesn't like me feeding her but if I left her with just finger foods she'd hardly eat anything.

What shall i do...? I'm lucky to get a few spoonfuls down at each sitting at the moment.

She wont let herself go hungry, my dd1 was like this and was like it for months, so long as she is taking milk (bf/ff) she should be fine, take her to your hv get her weighed, and explain to the hv whats been happening, then take her back in about a month just to make sure that she has put on a little weight. my dd1 is 9 yr old tomorrow and has a very big appetite now.

babybore, has her sleeping changed at night (if she isn't waking earlier or more often, then that would imply she's still taking in enough calories I would guess)? Has she increased her milk intake? It is hard, but colds and illnesses can put children off their food for quite a long time, also teething can mean that they just won't eat a thing for a couple of days/weeks.

I think I would try for a few days not feeding her with a spoon at all, but just having finger food. My DS at that age used to love steamed veg (chopped into bite sized bits) with grated cheese on top. You might be surprised by how much she actually eats if you aren't showing her a spoon, which she might find stressful. Do you eat with her? I'd also try and eat with her, so that she can see you eating and enjoying your food. Also keep a little diary of what she eats, and over a week I bet it'll actually be quite surprising what she does eat.

I do think it's really important (and I struggle with this) to try and make food as stress free as possible to avoid issues with eating as they grow up.

is her mouth sore?

Thanks for your replies so far. I don't think her mouth is sore because she puts so many other objects in it! Her sleeping patterns haven't really changed, in fact if nayhting she is sleeping even more during the day than normal (she has always been a great napper).

I always make meal times stress free - I eat with her, I don't focus too intensely on her eating, I try and make food fun and I never make an issue over her refusing to eat. She takes her milk fine though. I'll try more finger food but I think most is going to end up on the floor.

Most might end up on the floor for a little while, but she'll soon work it out. I have read that babies often reduce their food intake when they begin to self feed, and that this is quite normal. Try not to worry. I'd only worry if she starts to lose weight, or isn't as alert and happy as normal. Hope it works out

are the other thing in her mouth to ease it? iykwim

Fingerfood only for a while and nothing else to play with on the highchair tray. Let her stay there for a reasonable amount of time, even if not eating anything eg 10 mins. Carry on offering milk and other drinks. Many children don't like to be spoonfed, can't say I blame them.

Thanks for your advice everyone. Yesterday went a bit better. Offered her steamed bocolli with grated cheese yesterday lunch and though very little went in her mouth she seemed happy enough to play with it while I gave her the moroccan lamb tagine leftovers. I honestly think if I just left her with finger food, she'd not really eat anything but at least offering her more is getting her interested in food.

Tea was more difficult but I think that's because she's tired and irritable by 5pm. Today I'm going to try cutting out her mid-aft milk (only 2-3 oz anyway) and give her tea at 4.30 instead. Fingers crossed!!

Yes, earlier teatime seems like good idea to me. Also you could give the milk feed AFTER the solids, to prevent her filling up on milk.

My dd (one tomorrow!) has been like this for a couple of months. She had 2 weeks where she ate EVERYTHING and is now going back to drinking lots of milk, yesterday she had 30 oz in 24 hours! (and waking in the night for it) and smooth purees .

Best thing I can suggest (which is what I've been doing myself) is to tell yourself over and over that (a) she won't let herself starve, and (b) none of it will matter when she's 18

Then just chill out, put some finger foods out, let her eat what she wants and look like you're enjoying watching her not eat, if she thinks you're happy she'll eat more! Little buggers that they are!