How long can a BF 18mo go without solid food?

[YankNCock]

before I call the doctor?

DS is feeding loads, doesn't want any of his favourite foods, poos have gone back to being loose and yellow bf baby poo.

he is on antibiotics for an ear infection and had a high fever for a few days, but he's been cutting down his solids for a few weeks now so I don't think it's all about that.

If it seems familiar, I did post about this a few weeks ago I think, and was wondering if it was a developmental thing. We are trying everything to get him to eat, feeding him off our plates, giving him whatever he points at, letting him use adult cutlery/plates (which he used to think was a treat). But it is only getting worse and now he is losing weight.

According to our scales he has dropped .8lbs and I have never seen his weight go down before, apart from just after birth.

I am letting him BF as often as he wants as I'm scared not to! So much for cutting down

Thought I would consult MN again as I can't stop worrying about it and this morning convinced myself DS had cancer because he had a dark, bloody bogey. DH told me not to be so silly, DS had been picking his nose

So how long do I let this go on before I'm allowed a proper freak out?

If you are worried take him to the doctor!

Really, I work on the basis that if you think your child might need to see the doctor then take them. The GP will probably just reassure you that everything's fine, but that's better than sitting at home imagining worst case scenarios.

yes, I suppose you are right.

I think I'm worried the GP will give me the same reaction as others in RL who already think I'm weird for continuing to BF....that is 'he won't eat? stop breastfeeding him, then he'll eat when he's hungry'

Honestly, most people I talk to seem to think that every single problem, no matter how big or small, would be solved by stopping breastfeeding. I was hoping to hear from other extended BFers that they've experienced similar and it was ok!

But the weight loss does concern me, so I will make an appointment this week.

My DD (21 months)spent most of last week in my bed reading stories and breastfeeding, by the end of the (incredibly long and tedious) week all four of her incisors had cut through, she is eating again with a vengance now!

I got a bit of cheesy pasta in him tonight, but very little.

He has cut some new teeth recently, and I think I can see incisors starting to poke through at least at the top, so am hoping it is just that. We've had times where he's not eaten much solid food for a day or two, but never like this where it's gone on much longer.

If he is BF lots, he is getting lots of nutrition and fluid. Just what he needs ATM.

He will start eating again when he is ready, keep offering snacky bits - toast, bananas, cereal, etc.

Are his nappies wet? It may take a week or two to regain lost weight, not sure that getting him weighed will help except to make you more worried?

I wouldn't worry about him being malnourished (not that it sounds like you are) but I'd go to the GP just to rule out anything else in the way of illness which might be causing it.

My gut feeling is that you've probably had an unfortunate co-incidence of developmental stuff, ear infection and teething, but it's worth getting it checked.

13 m.o. DS was on nursing strike for nearly 2 weeks recently due to an ear/chest infection (he was cutting molars too), and he drastically reduced the amount of solids he ate, even though he was having a lot less milk than usual. It was at least a week before his appetite came back and he started to eat something at every mealtime.

I know of lots of similar situations where cutting down bf hasn't meant an increase in solid food - but I know what you mean about the comments from people.

I have read of children who were exclusively bf (ie no solids at all) till 18 months or 2 years without any ill effects.

I really appreciate everyone's input!

He's had 3 really explosive poos today, very smelly, loose, yellow and apparently acidic as he had a rash everywhere the poo touched (but it went away within an hour).

Another day of eating next to nothing. 1 spoonful of beans, 1 triangle of toast, 1 bite of banana, 4 bites of fish pie, 2 fromage frais and about 1/2 cup of cow's milk. That's actually not too bad compared to yesterday.

moaningminnie, the nappies are wet, but I would say not as wet as normal, the urine seems more concentrated. He's not drinking his water as much as normal either, just throws his cup and refuses.

I didn't want him to miss swimming and playgroup for the doctor today, so will give them a ring tomorrow.