Should we see someone regarding food?

[Kelbell444]

OK reluctant to post this as everytime I've asked for advice I've been judged or people ignore what I've already said but meal times and food in general is becoming a big struggle so here goes...
My daughter struggled with weaning to begin with then we got to about 10 months and she was great. Would eat pretty much anything. By 1 she was pretty much eating what we ate plus typical baby snacks etc. About 2 months ago she suddenly started refusing porridge or any cereal that wasn't weetabix for breakfast. Then she refused any yoghurt or dessert in a pitwor bowl. She would only eat the pouches (until this point I'd never let her suck straight from the pouch, so don't think that was the reason for wanting it.) Then about a month ago she got very fussy with what she would eat for main meals. She was then ill with teething and a cough and cold but we're over all that now and the eating doesn't seem to be improving. Even mash and pasta that she was pretty much living off gets pushed away. Sometimes she will try the food but will spit it out after a few chews. Today she has had 3 satsumas, half a banana and a strawberry yoghurt! And thats pretty typical for the last week or so. I know toddlers appetites change but how do you know when it's something more and you should take them to the gp?

Perhaps you could have a word with your health visitor in the first instance?

Do they still have a health visitor at 15 months? Don't think we've seen one since she was 6 months old!

Yes they still have a HV and I think that you can see them until your LO starts school. It might be worth giving her a ring in the morning

Can I ask how much milk she has in a day too? It's just that a lot of milk can affect appetite

Thanks I'll get in touch with them. We cut her milk down just before Xmas as it was affecting her appetite. On a normal day she had a small bottle at nap time, probably 5oz then one at bed time.

I think you had the right idea cutting down on her milk, at 15 months she only needs 10 floz a day

Yes we saw a big improvement in her eating when we did that but she doesn't have much more than 10oz now and the majority of it is just before bed anyway. She hardly snacks either, unless it's because she hasn't had a lunch. So I'm at a loss as to what it could be.

Is she definitely over everything? It might be worth giving her a dose of calpol when she wakes up tomorrow and see if that helps.

Can you feel any teeth coming through too?

Yes think she's over everything. We'll as much as kids ever are! no teeth coming through at the min. She gets very rosy cheeks and dribbles a ridiculous amount when one is coming through and we've had none of that this week. Think I'm going to keep a good diary for her and note down teething and illnesses too. See if I notice a pattern.

It’s really normal for toddlers to suddenly limit their diet. It’s evolutionary, to stop toddlers wandering off and eating poisonous foods. Don’t worry too much! Limiting snacks/milk and not offering meal alternatives (“you don’t have to eat it but this is what’s for dinner”) will definitely prompt your child to become a little more adventurous, but honestly I wouldn’t worry too much.

OP, I could have written your original post.

I posted on MN a while back and was reassured it was just natural and as long as DC (19mo) was eating for the time being, then it should be no real issue. However, I should have probably mentioned that DC still has 3 x 9oz bottles of milk a day.

Having read the responses to your post, I will start with cutting out the first bottle of the day and lowering the amounts in the remaining bottles.

Not having a lot of experience with kids and being an 'older' mother I guess I just figured 'this too shall pass' and thought I'd ride it out until DC was older and have the argument then but am seeing the HV tomorrow anyway so will discuss it with them then.

Good luck OP! Xx