Help! My 1 year old won't eat!

[Teddyo]

I have a 1 year old who refuses to eat anything I make him. I offer him everything I can: whole grains, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, vegetables, fruits, dairy, everything! I've tried purees, I've tried baby led, none of which he wants. I've made milk scarce so he would want to eat more, but he refuses. I've sat down to eat with him, I've offered him my food... Nothing works.

I've also unfortunately weaned him off the breast, as I'm pregnant. He's lost a considerable amount of weight, apparent from his physique.

If he ever accepts the food in his mouth, he would just hold it in there and then spit it out.

I'm so stressed, I'm lost on what I can do more for him. Do I need to see a dietician? I've had other family members try to feed him as well, but they've struggled just as much, if not, worse.

TIA.

Bump

Has he never showed interest in food OP?was he weaned c 6 months?

How long has it been going on? My DS got quite picky at this point but has gotten better as I kept offering a range of foods at each meal.

I would recommend getting in touch with your health visitor for advice, and if you don’t get anywhere with that, your GP. I would also weigh your DC every few weeks so you can track against percentiles to have a stronger case to either be alarmed or to know it’s not too serious.

Have you spoken to your HV if he’s lost weight?

Maybe he is teething, DD gets fussy and has periods where she won’t eat but then gets her appetite back.

I do think the best way to encourage eating is to share your meals with them. Three times a day at the table. At this age I think it would be best to stop feeding him and let him feed himself so there’s consistency. Don’t worry about the mess.

Is he having cows milk now?

Will he go back on the breast for some nutrition? Relactation is perfectly possible if you fed him until fairly recently. I have a friend who stopped breastfeeding about 6 months old and then started again at 11months

What advice has your HV given you?

I'd go to HV or GP and get professional advice.

Also remember no nuts until age 5 (choking risk). I give my baby smooth peanut butter.

Hope things get better soon.

Is going back to breastfeeding him an option? I appreciate it's not always comfortable when pregnant.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers Never showed interest, but wasn't as much of a problem feeding him when he was weaned at 6 months. Now, it's just very difficult.

@pjani 2 months or so... I'll take your advice, as those were my next steps. Thank you.

@Summerandsparkle @Clangus00 I plan to see the health visitor as soon as I get the chance. And yes, he's having cow's milk. Is that okay? How much should he be drinking a day, roughly?

@LuckyKitty13 @Her0utdoors Not possible, unfortunately... He would breastfeed for comfort, too, which I never had a problem with. I dropped from 55kg to 42kg just because of breastfeeding him. I'm severely anaemic and underweight because of it. I cried so much weaning him off the breast, I would love to continue to do it, as my plan was to until he was 2 years old at minimum, but I would be asking too much if my body to provide nourishment for 2 babies.

@firstimemamma Thank you, I will do. And definitely! I usually just puree the nuts.

I wouldn't withhold milk. Let him drink as much as he wants and keep offering little bits and pieces of foods. Make it as fuss free as possible. I am guessing he may be picking up on your anxiety around this. I know processed foods aren't always the best but have you tried Frube type yogurts or baby bell cheese etc. Things that look fun. Even homemade chips dipped in ketchup would be better than nothing.

Gosh I'm so sorry you went through that. That must be a very unusual reaction to breastfeeding? My 9month old barely eats, on the breast all the time and I haven't lost an ounce! Are there any other medical problems at play here? Did you seek advice? Did you eat enough?

Sorry, I didn't realise you purée them. My friends ds is like this, you're definitely not the only one if it makes you feel less alone.

Hey there at the age of one there is a food strike this is complete normal and just part od toddler hood. Remember to offer foods throughout the day before milk at this point otherwise they will still be making milk thier main source of nutrition

Does he actually eat anything at all?

@Apolloanddaphne I'll definitely give this a shot. I offered Laughing Cow Cheese to him the other day and he loved it!

@LuckyKitty13 I did seek medical advice, but the practitioner just said to maintain a healthy diet with no advice of real substance, though I do worry I may suffer from undiagnosed hyperthyroidism.

@firstimemamma That's reassuring. It's often too easy to start comparing with other kids...

@user1496701154 I do, but I'll persevere, thanks. :)

@Soubriquet If it was up to him, he wouldn't want to eat anything at all, but I really do try to get things in his system.

Yesterday was a good day. He had sugar free Farley Rusks for breakfast, then I offered him some bananas (most of which ended up on the floor), he then had some pasta which he nibbled but didn't really stomach with some cream cheese. After 3 hrs or so, he had some rice and spinach and tomato curry (which he had quite a bit of). We ended the day with 1 yoghurt and cow's milk before bed. He was offered liquids between his feeds, too.

Today wasn't as great. Toast for breakfast, nibbled but mostly on the floor, then refused lunch, which was kebabs with chips, dinner he didn't want either and only accepted 2 yoghurts before drinking his milk and sleeping. I really did try...

Have you given him medicine in case its his teeth?
Once my ds has had a taste if something sometimes he wants more so i put something distracting on the tv for him so i can get the first mouthfull in. (Its not something i want but id rather he ate for now).
He also now wants to feed himself, so i load up a spoon ready for him to pick up. ( sometimes he does it when im there watching so i make a big deal cheering etc, sometimes i leave him to it , go tidy the kitchen up etc and he does it himself).

Assume you have tried leaving stuff on a plate for him to pick at while playing?

Does he go to nursery? Im sure mine eats better at nursery, is less fussy.

I'd certainly be going back to another gp, or speak to a lactation consultant or both, as I worry the same thing will happen with your next baby. Try to eat more if you can to keep your calorie intake high

Baby nurse reminded me that milk is a whole food when mine was this fussy.
Home made fish fingers and chips or nuggets and chips.
Lots of spaghetti bolognaise, chicken mornay type stuff that you can hide veggies in.
DD1 very fussy Did not like mashed or puréed food or soups. She is 23 now and still won’t eat mash but did eat bugs in Asia.
Go figure

Let him eat what he wants for now

Even if it’s something like Ella’s Kitchen pouches

Let him have as much milk as he wants too.

This is just a phase and it will pass.

But do seek medical help in the meantime

I have a similar problem with dc3 who is 16months. Extremely picky with food however still breastfeeding atm. We found food that she likes and literally rotate them. Always try to offer new things and sometimes she will try and others not! She will eat Porridge, rice, pasta, sweetcorn and peas. Loves sauces with her pasta and rice so not plain luckily and this week has started eating broccoli, dried apricots and dried cranberries. Really random. Just keep trying and give as much milk as requested I would say. I am also pregnant again and loosing weight (although gained half a stone since birth of last baby when not pregnant). I asked mw about this and basically she thought that breastfeeding and pregnancy are a massive drain on resources and I likely wasn't eating anywhere near enough to maintain a pregnancy, breastfeeding and myself. I have really made an effort to look after myself and my babies by eating enough of the right food (tricky with aversion). Try eating nutrient dense foods like broccoli, dried fruits, nuts, fruit and veg and yogurt. Good luck and hope he eats more soon.