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1 year old wont eat, so stressed! Advice please?!

20 replies

Nickname1234567 · 16/03/2019 20:30

Hi all.
I am becoming so stressed because of this situation, i just feel so lost because i dont know what to do!
My little boy is nearly 15 months, he has allways been picky since start of weaning even though i tried him with literally every thing. But i finally found something that worked for him which was his meals completley blended only a little bit lumpy, because if he finds any lumps in his food he will pull them out of his mouth throw them and scream! I allways try to put all of the food on his high chair for him to eat with his fingers but he doesnt even try it he either crys about it or throws it and stands up in his high chair. Just these past few weeks he wont eat at all & i dont know what to do and if it is even safe for him not to be eating dinner, i am so worried. I asked the health vistor about this last week but she said its because of teething probably, she based teething on all of my concerns and said he would be fine basically, now i know she is a proffesional, but what about him eating during all of this teething, he cant have no dinner, can he? He will eat some lunch but only very little of it, and will manage about 4 or 5 spoonfuls before he starts heaving and pushing it away. He drinks water and milk, lots of milk! Hes up all night for bottles. He has around 4 or 5 bottles a night (yes im exhaused) but im used to it now because that has been going on a very long time so its not a new thing.
This is what is concerning me the most.. every time i try him with dinner for the past week, making it excactly the way that he likes it, he pukes every where just at the smell it doesnt even have to enter his mouth he sees the spoon and vomits everywhere. Today the dinner actually entered his mouth and it came straight back up he was sick everywhere again all over him and his highchair and was screaming, i tried lots of alternatives like i allways do but he doesnt want anything he keeps heaving, and then he stands up and trys to leap out of his high chair. I dont know what to do? He was even sick of a yogurt yesterday which he usually loves. I will be in contact with a hv on monday.
In the mean time, any advice please??
Thanks

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
FogCutter · 16/03/2019 20:32

Sounds like he's filling up on milk so probably isn't hungry for food.

Decrease the milk and give food instead.

SoyDora · 16/03/2019 20:33

I’d say the main reason he has no interest in food is because of the amount of milk he drinks, to be honest.

FogCutter · 16/03/2019 20:34

Sorry pressed post too soon..

I would also take him to the dr about the vomiting when he eats. And your health visitor might also be able to help?

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CountessVonBoobs · 16/03/2019 20:39

It's very unusual for a healthy and developmentally normal 15mo to only eat completely smooth puree. Has he ever eaten finger food? Fed himself?

A toddler drinking that much milk is not going to be interested in food, no. I think you should cut down the bottles and give more water and finger foods. If he doesn't self feed/eat proper solids at this stage I would be concerned that you have a real problem on your hands and need referral to a dietician.

If the vomiting is a new thing and is at the smell of food I can only assume a tummy bug or similar tbh. That or he has learned to make himself vomit in protest.

See what the HV says.

Nickname1234567 · 16/03/2019 20:47

Thanks for the replies.
He doesnt really drink milk in the day, but like i said he has an awful lot at night! I have tried so hard to stop the milk at night times but he just cries and sobs all night untill he gets a bottle, its utterly exhausting for us both, i can only assume he is hungry at night and feels like he needs it, but like i said if he does not get it he just screams and sobs untill he gets a bottle to fall back to sleep with.

Also yes he does have some finger foods, but not much because he refuses it a lot. He usually gags on finger foods, but again HV said it is normal? I feel like i am getting no help. Can i self refer anywhere?

OP posts:
user1496701154 · 17/03/2019 07:31

Sorry your going through this but I'll tell you this also babes to through a phase of not eating my little one did at 13 months he's not 19 month's. Can't say anything about traditional weaning as we done baby led so no purees. For the milk I'd try offer is a sippy cup during day an offer water in a night they do not need that many bottles at 1 as food is thier main source of nutrition

SoyDora · 17/03/2019 07:32

You need to think about his teeth too, with all the bottles in the night.

FaceLikeAPairOfTits · 17/03/2019 07:38

What’s he like with v hard foods eg raw carrot? DD liked chomping on those when she was teething.

LuckyKitty13 · 17/03/2019 07:41

Offer water in a bottle at night? Would that help?

Chocolateheaven123 · 17/03/2019 07:45

Could he have some kind of sensory issue?

As for the milk, could you start decreasing the amount of milk and adding water? So eventually he's only having water.

Divgirl2 · 17/03/2019 10:06

I think you're going to have to get a bit tough on the bottles at night. Most 15 month olds are night weaned for the most part, and by then food should be their main source of nutrition.

He seems to have turned day into night food wise.

I'd plan a long weekend or a week if you can manage it, and start saying no to the night bottles. Crying wont hurt him, you can cuddle him and read to him and give him water, I'm not suggesting you just leave him to cry. Maybe start with giving him one bottle in the middle of the night, but just water at other times.

Divgirl2 · 17/03/2019 10:09

Oh, and try finger foods/real food. You might have more luck with them. DS wouldn't even consider eating lumpy purees, but did just fine with actual food (even "wet" food like macaroni cheese or stew).

If you're nervous about it try "puffs" first (like the baby version of wotsits), since they're nearly impossible to choke on, then banana or cooked carrot, soft cheese etc.

Quartz2208 · 17/03/2019 10:12

Yes I think you are in a vicious circle he overfills up on milk at night so doesn’t eat during the day so is hungry at night

Shelbybear · 17/03/2019 10:26

Yeah the milk really is not helping but I get this is not easy!

Does he eat yoghurt? What about any cereal or porridge or is that too lumpy?

Have u tried giving food at night instead of the milk just to see if he is that hungry or if he's just in a habit with the milk.

I'd take him to the GP for a check. What's his weight like is he putting weight on?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 17/03/2019 10:28

Have you tried night weaning him?

Tolleshunt · 17/03/2019 10:31

I think you have two issues here: firstly, drinking milk at night means he doesn't need to eat in the day. As pps said, you will need to stop that. He will be upset and protest at first, so choose a time when you have the mental and physical strength to cope. Maybe you could try cutting it down in stages? Offer water and cuddles instead.

Secondly, it sounds like he may have sensory issues, and may have developed a gag association with solid food. I would back off with the pressure to eat meals temporarily. Switch things up, so that the environment around eating is different, so he won't be subject to the usual cues. Maybe let him eat picnic-style, or just graze on food. Leave bowls of chopped fruit etc around and put no pressure on him to try, but eat it yourself and express pleasure over it. Once he is not drinking the milk at night he should become naturally hungry enough to eat more. But if you continue with the same set-up you may be running the risk of entrenching his aversions further.

NabooThatsWho · 17/03/2019 10:33

Yeah he’s filling up on the excessive amount of milk at night and that needs to be cut out. You’ll both feel better for it once he’s eating and sleeping better.

Good luck, it’s not easy but will be worth it.

dancemom · 17/03/2019 10:39

Make the night bottles half milk half water?

JiltedJohnsJulie · 17/03/2019 10:49

As well as reducing his milk and stopping the night feeds, is he doing activities that will make him hungry, like swimming?

They only need 300 ml of full fat cow's milk a day so I would be looking at reducing his milk intake to around this over the next few weeks.

bluebell34567 · 17/03/2019 11:11

op i feel for you.
had the similar problems with dc.
it sounds he will be a fussy eater.
talk to gp for referral to dietician.

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