15 month old will not eat - Please, please help, at the end of my tether

[PennyBenjamin]

DS is now almost 15 months old, and has gone from being a 9 month old who would eat pretty much anything, to now where he will eat practically nothing. It has got gradually worse over the last 6 months, with him refusing more and more foods.

He has also started refusing to be fed by me as well, which would not be a problem if he would actually put food in his own mouth. Since then I have been just sitting him with finger food, but he just doesn't like anything. I think I have tried just about every food I can think of, but the only things he will eat are banana, yoghurt, shreddies, and occasionally a few bites of toast or bagel. He absolutely refuses meat or vegetables.

If this were just teething or a phase I would understand, but it's been going on for months now. I end practically every meal in tears, and seem to spend most of my time shopping for, and cooking, food that ends up being thrown on the floor and then thrown away.

People trot out platitudes like "He'll eat when he's hungry" or "Toddlers will never let themselves starve" but I think he might be the exception. He has actually gone more than 24 hours without solids passing his lips, and only 8 ounces of milk, and I still couldn't get him to eat anything more than a yoghurt.

Please, please help. I really am losing it, I just don't know what to do. Do I keep him going on yoghurts and banana, or is that letting him know that if he holds out he can get something he likes? Do I not give him anything if he wont eat what's in front of him, or is he too young to understand that?

Hi there,

We are sorry to hear, we are totally understand how you both are go through right now.

Thanks for asking our son is fine now. Here abit information about our son that he was born as a big baby 8,9lbs. but after 2months old he was winning himself with bottles and 4months old with breastfed. we knew right after he hates milk. i fought with him every single breastfed time, or he wont drink and want to starved himself instead. i had no option untill breastfed was last a year old we switch to cow milk bcz his tummy couldnt take any formula, and he still hate milk no matter what lol

when he started 9 months, he was really interested into foods, all kind, we let he fed hinself, he was really enjoyed them..

Back in summer 2021, we were actually had such a challenge time with him. He went a straight a month refused solid food and any kind of liquid, all he survived by 5 yogurt a day, some crackers and abit juicy fruits to kept him hydrated, we were even tried pedialite but he hated everything. i had to feed half a spoon of yogurt plus another half with water together same spoon still basically to water it down for him so he didn’t taste there was water.. we had tried many time on and off to let he starve himself maybe he would eat but 3 days in a row without milk or foods beside yogurt and crackers then i gave up, we had to force or please him to eat. i had to put tons of toys or kitchen stuffs whatver he was fascinated about on his high chair plus the TV was on same time to distracted him so he might take foods. i went crazy and cried every meals and hated myself so much that as a mom i couldn’t put food in my son’s mouth,not even one drop if milk, even i tried so hard then right after he spat all out. we tried to ask ppls fed him he didn’t take from anyone… doctor said we had to try our best to feed him or he need to go to ER for dehydration. and of course he was teething.
He got better, untill October he got 8 teeth came out at once, at it was a nightmare including sleeping habit, he woke up screamed his head off every 2 hour, skipped nap, he coukdnt sleep bcz he was hungry and he couldnt eat bcz he was too tired. we couldnt give him tylenol either, bcz he spat right out after fed.. everyone told me “oh he is fine, no worry too much, he will eat when he is hungry” i knew they tried to help make me feel better but it was actually upset me even more bcz i knew my son, i forced him every single thing to be like that size, it was about more than 6 months to fight with his eating habit while i was 7months pregnant.

He is 23 months soon, very healthy very active and very smart boy. he eats whatever we fed him.he take water from straw bottle (improved) the only thing he will feed himself are ygurt steam vegetables and fruits. and he still hates milk.

So i really hear you, i hope your son is not as bad as mine when it comes with foods, cry as much as you want, try your best to go through this pharse, do all your magic to feed him, anything would count. and i hope he will get back to normal soon for you all. Feel free ask me anymore.

Best of luck :)

Did you get any solution.?
I am struggling with this too..
Pls share what you did