DD has lost appetite

[ess]

DD (9mo) was weaning well and all of a sudden is hardly eating a thing. She has only put on 5oz in 7 weeks and I'm getting a little concerned. As soon as she sees the spoon she gets quite upset, mouth firmly closed and pushes my hand away. I was giving a bit of milk, then food then rest of milk when she had finished food. HV said to give solids first and milk half hour later but this has made no difference. I've given her some finger foods and she will eat some toast but not much. I've tried fruit, cheese, chicken etc but only seems to be emptying her bottles at the moment. Think she has top teeth on way and am wondering if this is the cause? I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me. TIA

Teething, IMO. Just give her milk and don't force the food issue. She'll get back to it when he mouth isn't sore any more.

Thanks for that, I think so too. HV is telling me to give food first but she is so hungry and only wants milk. Think I'll leave things as they were until the teeth appear, think it may be 4 at once actually, poor love!

Have exactly the same problem. Annabel Karmel says babies get most of their nutrition from milk anyway for first year and food just to get
them used to the idea of solids etc for later so no need to worry. Still concerned myself but trying to be laid back.....

I am finding it hard going, esp when my lovingly
created food is rejected, but my HV said that so long as baby keeps on drinking milk and doesn't get dehydrated, don't worry and let her go at own pace.

Let me know how things go.

Teething often puts them off solids.

Offering a wide range of finger foods might make them more interested? At this age, I think they can cope with grownup pasta, shapes like fusilli and penne are easy for them. And it's a bit easier to eat than toast (which is also a good finger food).

Thanks for that. Nice to know Im not the only one. My HV said DD cant survive on milk alone and needs calories from food- thats why I've been so worried. She is drinking about 30oz milk a day though and not waking in the night hungry. At the end of the day, we can't forcefeed them and DD seems happy in herself so I guess I'll just have to follow her lead.

ds (12mo) has just got his appetite back after over a week of next to no solids (bf and the odd rice cake or sultana only ) because his first molars are coming through. He is fine and didn't even lose any noticeable weight.

As you say, you can't force feed them so there's no point stressing about it. Milk only is fine for a few days - it's got plenty of nutrients and calories in it. I would just go with her appetite and maybe offer water as well (all that dribbling seems to make them a bit thirstier).

Um, it used to be normal, in some cultures at least, to not wean until 9 months! And some Americans don't wean until a year! So your DD can absolutely manage on only milk.

I'd keep offering food, as wide a variety as possible, but don't stress about it.

Had DD weighed again today- no improvement. I've decided to add another 20z to each of her bottles as that's all she fancies at the moment so she's having 10oz at one go and drinking it all!Noticed her top front tooth has come through today so fingers xd that's what all this has been about.