8MO losing weight, now only 15lb 8oz!

[arabellaandbaby]

Hi there

I have a massive concern for my DD who has just turned 8 months old. 4 weeks ago, she weighed 7.5kg (16lb 8oz), but she has now dropped to 7.05kg (15lb 8oz). She has been on three solid meals a day for the past month. She started nursery 5 weeks ago and since then, has come down with numerous coughs, colds and fevers on and off. Actually, I can't remember the last time she was well. I know there is a reason for her losing weight but she hasn't had an appetite for a long, long time now and I wonder whether she ever will at this rate. Nursery seems to feed her ok, she apparently eats all her food and snacks there, but I can't seem to get her to eat at home. She only takes 1-2 spoons, then starts 'raspberrying' the food out. When I try to get her to drink her milk, she drinks only 1-2oz and doesn't want water either. It's got to the stage now where the clothes which I thought she was fast growing out of have now become baggy on her.

What do I do? I just feel so down. Is there any flavours I could introduce into her foods like herbs etc so that it appeals more to her. At the moment, I don't add flavours at all, just plain meat, veg and fruit, mashed.

Thanks v much for your help.

x

Do you ever do things like cheesy vegetables, banana with custard, fried home made meat balls, chunks of avocado?

Things that are very calorific but not unhealthy.

I'm sure you feed her well, it's just you only mentioned meat, fruit and vegetables, and if she's a child who enjoys her fruit and vegetables she may be filling up on low calorie foods.

Thanks for this, colditz, i've tried her on cauliflower cheese at home, I think that's probably the only proper dish I've served her up with. The nursery are giving her things like chicken and veg soup, lasagne, banana and custard, toast fingers etc. I suppose her lack of eating at home could be me not really knowing what to cook for her other than blending a meat with potato and a few types of veg together. What flavours can I add? Cinnamon, herbs, perhaps? Is it my fault she's been losing weight?

Of course it's not your fault. It's your job to prive the food. You can't eat it for her.

I'd try a little strong cheese on her vegetables and also some garlic with her meat

If you are struggling with ideas, then I can recommend Annabel Karmel's Baby and Toddler Meal Planner recipe book. Also Gina Ford's book on weaning had some simple but effective recipes to help with variety and tempting the palate. Most can be made in bulk then frozen which I found very helpful.
If you are worried about DD's health though, also go and see your GP or Health Visitor. It will put your mind at rest.

Has she recently become mobile?

Mine was a little pudding, visually, from birth to around 8 months. Big round cheeks, gorgeous little pudding. And then there's a photo of her around 9 months which is all cheekbones and profile. Startling, it was, although she seemed happy and healthy so I didn't take her to the Dr, and i was right. The thing was, she'd suddenly learned to pull up and crawl, and her appetite hadn't caught up, I think. She was still ebf and I blw so I didn't worry about portions.

Anyway, around 11-12 months she started eating more, and found an equilibrium - never a pudding again, but a bit fatter. She went back to 50%ile (from 25%, for those few months). I've never encouraged her to eat, she just decided she needed it.

Which is a long way of saying, I know there are fussy eaters and problematic weight gains, but if yours has been fine until now, I think it unlikely that she'll suddenly need intervention. I bet it's a developmental phase.

I would ask the nursery to make sure she is getting enough calories. Maybe she is filling up too much on low calorie veg purees. Suggest they give her more healthy, but high calorie food (eg pasta with meaty sauce, risotto, full fat yogurt, cheese) and a bit less veg for a few weeks and see if that makes a difference.

If she is active and well (apart from the inevitable colds) it is unlikely there is anything seriously amiss.

My DS at age 3yrs 1 month still doesn't eat! He looks like the fittest, healthiest child you ever did see - if only I could take a leaf out of his book Ihe did not put remember the Christmas he was 15 months - for 8 months from then he did not put on a single pound, he never ever stops either. He will eat fish though, loves it. Have you tried giving her more finger foods maybe?

sorry that doesn't make sense my curser keeps jumping to wherever it pleases.

Thank you very much for your replies, all. TorturesInAHalfHell , yes, DD has become quite a lot more mobile in recent weeks - she's almost crawling and keeps shunting forward, rolling all over the place, trying to sit up from a lying down position etc, and I think perhaps all this movement, although not a direct cause of her losing weight, is certainly preventing her gaining any more. Together with her recent spates of colds and fevers, it must have made her skinnier.

I have arranged for the health visitor to come round today to check DD out. I think I will also have to try giving her more high caloried foods and give her less filling, starchy ones.

Thanks again, everyone, very helpful advice.

Love Arabella x