Is this normal - 14 month old appetite.

[Shefliesonherownwings]

DS used to be a great eater a couple of months ago. 3 melas a day, snacks and milk at bedtime and on waking.

But for over a week now, possibly two, he has barely eaten anything. He started nursery almost two months ago and has picked up every bug going, he currently has a nasty cough that can’t be shifted. He’s been to the docs who said his lungs are fine.

The nursery say he eats there but at home it’s a different story and he was off from nursery last week due to a temperature so I’ve seen how little he’s eaten. He’ll have a few bites of toast for breakfast, maybe some porridge or weetabix. Aside from that he’s living off yoghurts, fruit purée, crisps and crackers at the moment. And not a huge amount of those. He’s drinking his milk but leaving around 30mls in the evening.

He seems ok in himself apart from the cough and he’s having water but I’m worried that he’s eating so much less than he used to. At one point he’d polish off a whole weetabix and banana for breakfast!

Is this normal when they get ill? He’s just cut his first molar too so maybe that’s it? Just concerned it’s been going on a while now.

Hello OP - just bumping this back into active for you.

Aw bless him. It’s completely normal for littluns to go off their food when poorly though, so just keep offering healthy, easy to eat foods and plenty of water and I’m sure he’ll back to his normal self soon.

As long as he's drinking, he'll be fine. You know yourself when you're ill you don't want to eat huge amounts.

The good thing about milk is that it's a nice easy thing, that doesn't take too much effort for them to eat when they're already a bit run down. I would offer more milk for the time being.

Thanks guys, and MN for bumping. We offered extra milk at lunchtime but he only had a small bit. I appreciate the reassurance though, so hard when they can’t tell you what’s going on.

Yup don't worry, completely normal. He will eventually get his apatite back. You would be surprised how little children need to eat.

I really hope you are all right. He ate a bit more yesterday but has had barely anything today. Starting to get really worried 😟

Hey @Shefliesonherownwings , I have no advice but just wanted to say my 15 month old has been exactly the same since starting nursery three months ago, we've had every illness going and a perma-cold throughout. He used to be a champion eater and is barely touching his meals at home. Anyway. Just wanted to say, you're not alone!

Thanks @KitKatKit. Sorry you’re having the same but it’s nice to know I’m not alone. DS seems fine in himself but this sudden change in appetite has really thrown me as he used to eat so well. Fingers crossed he picks up soon 🤞🏼🤞🏼

I was worried just like you around 3 weeks back. He was hardly eating after 6 weeks of teething and bugs. He started screaming whenever I put him in his highchair, so he's been living off handheld snacks for weeks. Like your little one he had been a great eater until this time. He's also 14 months (soon to be 15).

He's started eating much better recently,so now trying to reintroduce his 'not so beige' foods as its been so long since he ate proper meals. I think it's just phases they go through, especially when ill

Thanks @Cottonfairy4615 that does make me feel a bit better. I’m sure even once he picks up a bit, it’ll take a while to get back to where he was, his stomach must have shrunk with how little he’s eating. How long do you think he lost his appetite for @Cottonfairy4615?

It's completely normal when they're poorly and he will make up for it when he's better.

If he still has a temperature and it's been a few days of not eating much I would take him to the GP though and ask them to check his ears, throat and tummy, just to check that there's not an infection that's been missed.

Thanks @PanicBuyingSprouts he doesn’t have a temp anymore thankfully although he’s still coughing. But he ate all his lunch and pudding at nursery today so I’m pleased about that. We’ll just have to see how he goes.

Sounds like he's on the mend. I seriously wouldn't worry at this point. He really will make up for the lost calories once he's feeling better.

It was a good 4 weeks, I was honestly at my wits end.

I read somewhere that babies double their birth weight by 6 months, and then triple their birth weight by their 1st birthday. They then don't quadruple their birth weight until their 2nd birthday, or something like that, so they may not need as much food as they were having before. Dont know how much truth there is behind it, but he definitely eats less now than he did at 11 months/1 year.

Easier said than done, but I also feel like his eating coincided with my decision to be less anxious about meal times and just go with the flow. It will get better

Thanks, I think I’ve figured out one reason. He’s cutting another molar. His first just came through a couple of weeks ago and now he’s getting another one on the opposite side so I’m sure that’s a factor. He gulped down his milk this morning so hopefully he’s picking up a bit.