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At my wits end!!!!

17 replies

Rohey · 13/06/2004 10:38

Please help me..

My very small 10 month DD is refusing point blank to eat anything or drink her milk..
She refuses to take her thumb out of her mouth for a second to let me slip in some food..
I have tried leaving food about the place but she ends up playing with the food rather than eating it...
She was born tiny and is still so tiny, her ribs seem to show through I am sitting here crying my eyes out as I am not sure what to do..
Please help me...

OP posts:
emmatmg · 13/06/2004 11:52

Just bumping this up for you Rohey so that it stays on the 'active conversations'.

Can't really think of anything to help.......sorry

There are lots of threads about fussy/difficult/non eating little ones so maybe do a search.

poppyseed · 13/06/2004 11:56

I'd see your HV to check weight gain etc. Is she still producing wet nappies? There could be lots of reasons why she is like this at the moment, don't worry, just get her looked at if she isn't drinking in this hot weather at all.

mummytojames · 13/06/2004 12:17

rohey is she taking penty of water because as poppyseed pointed out with this hot weather she migh not eel like eating
teething everytime my ds cuts a tooth or is just about to he's in agony so he refuse food as well with her sucking her thumb she might take this as comfort trying to rub where it hurts
how long as she been refusing food because if she goes over three days i would see a doctor he might have some ideas that will increase her appitite i know its magor stress i have been there and i know how they can have you in tears
other reasons might be she has a bug and really run down so she dont feel like eating or this might sound strange but my ds does it every time she has learned something new like learned to stand or something like that and she thinks thats way more interesting
hth

carla · 13/06/2004 12:21

How long has she been like this? Was she previously OK with food/drink? DD1 used to eat anything from the Annabel K book but at 11/12 months she sank into the kind of completely fussy eater she still is, at 5.

Let us know if it's just her being faddy or if it's a sudden thing.

XXXX carla

minkmama · 13/06/2004 12:41

DON'T DESPAIR!

DS1 is 18mths and eating problems began last summer. Refused to eat for 1wk. Has even been referred to paed for being such a lightweight Ribs have made an appearance on many occasions.

Thankfully DS1 does drink milk...ahve you had DD tested for allergies? Talk to GP about referral to a nutritionist. They made us feel it was normal and gave ideas to improve eating habits. Actuallly worked when tried out.

DS1 still doesn't eat much sometimes only 1 small meal a day. Is DD alert and happy despite this? If so, don't worry. Sometimes they just won't listen to your pleas or tears, the more you despair the more you'll upset yourself and it doesn't change a thing. See a nutritionist asap

Could she be allergic ot cow's milk?

oneofeach · 13/06/2004 13:11

Rohey, I don't really have any new advice to offer but just wanted to send you a hug because I know exactly how you feel. My now 3 year old DS used to drive me to absolute despair with his refusal to eat. I was determined not to repeat the whole 'food' issue with my DD. She is now 7.5 months and after a slow start got really into food. I cooked everything in that Annabel Karmel book and now she is refusing anything homemade! I have been in tears this lunchtime. She seems to like the jars though so maybe my meals are a bit lumpy or something. She also vomits all the time and is seeing a paed next week. Sorry, I'm supposed to be trying to make you feel better. All I can say is try to all the medical help/reassurance you need and try to remember that eating is only one aspect of her development. Best of luck. You will find lots of support on here. Mumsnet has really helped me realise that I'm not the only one who has this problem.

jane313 · 13/06/2004 15:36

I'm sorry I haven't got anything to say to help but just wanted to express my sympathy. I only find this thread because I was thinking of starting my own as my nearly year old son has started refusing food or letting it fall out of his mouth after being the greediest baby ever. But as hes still eats a few thing so i feel a bit foolish complaining.

It must be something hard wired into mothers because when he doesn't eat it makes my insides clench, its so stressful.

Good luck, go and see a Dr or HV because at least its someoen to talk to and that often helps.

gscrym · 13/06/2004 17:43

I'm thinking of you. I've had many lunchtimes of crying and shouting. I feel like a crappy mum because my ds only eats 3 different things. How does your HV feel about it? Is she nice and approachable? I went to see one who made me feel like I was a terrible parent. I spent 2 days crying about it and then my own one put me totally at ease.
Have you tried her on ice lollies or maybe smoothies? I'm sorry if you've already tried all this. I know how heart breaking it is. Is she playing and being active? That's usually a good sign.
Hope she starts munching and drinking soon. Please try not to be too upset.

Rohey · 13/06/2004 23:32

Hi all..
Thanks for all the support and kind words..
feel a little better now I got most of it off my chest...
DD is active as can be, she is crawling around, climbing up the stairs and cruising around the tables and chairs.. God knows how she has the strength to do it..
Wet nappies and drinking lots of water, she managed 4 bottles (5oz) of milk today and a quarter jam sandwich, so not to bad..
But still feel like a lousy mum...
HV always say the same thing.. Teething..!! DD has not cut a single tooth yet..! Getting worried..
I will keep you posted if her appetite improves..
Oneofeach, I know how you feel about cooking all the food and then having to throw it it is so infuriating..
Anyway, onwards and upwards..
Thanks again everyone..

OP posts:
prettycandles · 14/06/2004 14:22

Rohey - I've got a lot to say, but please please please don't feel lectured at, OK? - I've been where you are, and YES it's very stressful and upsetting.

First and foremost, you are NOT A BAD MUM. If you were, you wouldn't be so worried and upset.

When my ds, now 3.5y, was 8.5m he went from being an enthusiastic eater to eating virtually nothing for 5 weeks. It was hideously upsetting for all of us, especially when his ribs and hips started to show. He didn't put on any weight during that month either. Then the first teeth appeared and suddenly his appetite was making up for lost time.

So, yes, your HV could be right (which doesn't really make it any the less distressing for you).

Your dd sounds healthy and alert to me, so you really and truly do not need to worry. Even if the ribs show! Babies are resilient little creatures.

The most important thing for you to do now is not to stress about this, and not to transmit your stress to your dd. Don't try to bribe her with the sorts of foods you wouldn't want her to live on - chocolate and icecream, for example. Just offer her tiny portions of things you know she likes. And if cooking and chucking it distresses you - don't bother. If you can afford it then use jar foods. Try giving your dd something to hold during mealtimes - a teether, keys , or a spoon perhaps. How about taking your lunch or supper out into the garden?

The important thing is to come through this period without any 'hangups' that might make it harder for you or your dd during future meals.

I speak with the voice of experience . I stressed myself and ds during his hunger strike, and reaped the whirlwind over mealtimes and food 'fights' for a long time afterwards. TBH, I only really understood what was happening with ds's eating when dd started solids and I realised that she eats masses more than he ever did, even when I thought that he was an enthusiastic eater with a good appetite. When dd was 8m and ds was 3y, dd was eating two to three times as much as ds!

I finally understood that each child eats as much as he or she needs. I learned to ease off on ds (difficult, took months, and I still need to remind myself to ease off) and his appetite improved a little. Fortunately this was also the time that dd's appetite decreased, so I understood what was goinng on and didn't stress about it, just let her get on with it. Now dd is 18m, ds is 3.5y and she only eats perhaps 1.5 times as much as ds. He is still slim with visible ribs, but then she is not a chubby baby either!

Sorry for such a long posting, but I felt that my story might help you.

Chin up, you'll come through this and it will all be OK.

Rohey · 14/06/2004 14:51

Thanks prettycandles..
It's so reassuring when you read of others facing the same plight..(I don't mean that in a nasty way if you know what I mean
I know you are right about not worrying, they eat as much and as often as they are hungry.. But it was so worrying as she did not show any signs of teething so I had dismissed that as a possible issue..Then started wrecking my brain as to what the issue could be.. By this time I was in such a tiz about the whole thing..
anyway, good news, she had a cheesy omlette followed by strawberry cheesecake Haagan Dazz..
So fingers crossed, that soon enough her appetite is back to normal...
BTW she had a teething pooh just now, so maybe teeth are the cause.. Who knows.. Babies are such a mystery...
Thanks for your kind and reassuring words..

OP posts:
prettycandles · 14/06/2004 14:57
Smile
Chandra · 14/06/2004 15:05

rohey, everytime DS is about to get a new tooth the only signs he shows is to stop eating, become grumpy and wakes up several times at night, temperatures about 39 degrees are common, all this last for about a week or two and at the end of it we can see a tiny surface of the tooth. Please don't discard teething, it may well be.

Rohey · 15/06/2004 12:52

Good news everyone..!

DD has gained weight..
Went to see HV, she was very encouraging and was pleased with DD's weight gain, madam decided to show off with her crawling abilities..
Was advised to try vitamins if I was worried about food intake and she adviced Minadex..
Has anyone tried it??
I feel so much better now, I was dreading going to get her weighed... I did not sleep all night with worry.. But glad I went..
HV told me that most babies around 8 months onwards tend not to eat as much as previous and you are better off with finger food..
She also advised that not to give too much milk as it tends to fill them up to much and hence not interested in food..
I would just like to say thanks to all of you for your support, advice and kind words through this rough time..
You guys are great!!

OP posts:
poppyseed · 15/06/2004 12:55

Good to hear the news! No worries then!!

oneofeach · 15/06/2004 13:18

That's great news Rohey! I give my Ds Minadex and I think I'm doing to start my DD on it too. My DS loves it and asks for it everyday.
Best of luck!

Aero · 15/06/2004 13:38

Yes - we use minadex, though mostly when they show signs of being run down or feeling ill and have low/no appetites. Ds1 calls it 'build-up medicine'. It's a pretty good tonic for when they're not getting all the nutrients/vitamins they need from food. Yes - would recommend it.

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