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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Will she EVER eat???

40 replies

Gina1981 · 03/12/2012 12:03

Dd is 12m and is breastfed. Food is so hit and miss. We did blw with a tiny bit of spoon feeding. She doesn't entertain breakfast or lunch and sometimes will eat dinner. Generally shows no interest in food. She bfs around 4-5 a day and sleeps through the night. At the moment she is very poorly with an upper respiratory viral infenection and has not eaten a thing since Saturday and has upped her bfs. Whilst I completely understand that she doesn't want to eat right now, I can't help worry that she will ever eat again. It's bad enough trying to get her to eat when she is well, but now she is like this I can't see her ever eating again. Seriously I am so worried now and can't take anymore. I don't know where to go from here. Normally we all sit down to eat together and I put the food infront of her with cutlery and she explores and no pressure. Nothing goes in and if it does its a tiny amount. I've tried sitting her in my lap and letting her take from my plate but she just throws it everywhere and probably thinks its a game. I can't keep living like this. Please surely someone has some advice for me x

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bishboschone · 03/12/2012 12:06

I no nothing about breast feeding but with bottle feeding you cut back a bit so they take more food . My ds is 15 months and at 12 he was down to a bottle morning and night . So he had room for food .. Does that make sense ?

choceyes · 03/12/2012 12:10

You sound like I was with my DD! She only started eating anything after 12 months. She was a massive bfer and no intrest in food whatsoever. She only started eating after starting at nursery at 12 months and seeing the other children eat, and ofcourse go without her precious BM for 8hrs! I too was pretty stressed at her not eating till then. We also did BLW, with a tiny bit of spoon feeding (mainly for my convinience as had a 2yr DS too), but she only ever took a couple of spoonfuls before refusing that too. She mainly played with food. No interest in it whatsoever as something to eat. I used to give her tiny bits of food whilst she was in her sling (she liked to be carried a lot), and that way she ate bits of meat and fruit. She was nice and healthy and maintained her weight on a 99% BM diet though.

She is 2.3yrs now and she loves her food. Eats a good amount and variety and tries everything. DS, who took to food easily as a baby is a lot more fussy about foods now.

Hope your DD is better soon and she will eat soon don't worry.

nickelbabeuntiladvent · 03/12/2012 12:14

she'll eat again, don't worry!

DD has been poorly too, and has drunk more milk than can possibly be humanly possible!
but she's coming out the other end and nibbling.

we tend to put a plate of food on the floor and she kind of picks at it.
(when we first put it down, we put it on her lap and sometimes "show" her the food)
but we don't do highchair and sitting at the table (mainly because our table is invisible under all the crap that's piled on it), so mealtime isn't a forced procedure. (she has eczema, and when she's strapped in to anything she rubs her wrists against the straps making them sore, so we try to avoid putting her in restraints when we don't need to - journeys are stressful enough without adding it to food too!)

NiceOneCenturion · 03/12/2012 12:17

I haven't much advice but couldn't let this go unanswered you sound so worried. If it's any reassurance my ds, while he always explored food enthusiastically, often seemed to take very little in. He's 19 months now and some days eats really well and at other times can go days it seems on not much, particularly if teething or coming down with something. He was also finger foods from the start and is still breastfed.

How is she doing generally? is she having lots of dirty nappies? Because if food is going through and she?s gaining weight well and meeting milestones then perhaps she is just going at her own pace. They do have tiny tummies and sometimes need less than you might think.

My local LLL had this book www.amazon.co.uk/My-Child-Wont-Eat-mealtimes/dp/1780660057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354536883&sr=8-1 which might be helpful.

bishboschone · 03/12/2012 12:25

I will add ds and peers don't eat when thy are poorly .

givemeaclue · 03/12/2012 13:02

I was worried as mine were under weight when born. I asked health visitor to come and observe a meal which she did and it really put my mind at rest and took the stress away

Original poster

Gina1981 · 04/12/2012 09:38

Should I be worried that dd still hasn't eaten a thing since Saturday? I weighed her this morning and she has lost just under a pound???

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choceyes · 04/12/2012 09:40

A pound is a lot to lose for a small child. Have you taken her to the docs?

choceyes · 04/12/2012 09:42

I wouldnt worry about her not having had any solids since Saturday though. It's normal for ill children. Have you tried giving her some favourite foods, even a bit of chocolate, to keep her strength up?

Original poster

Gina1981 · 04/12/2012 10:30

I'm here at the doctors now waiting to be seen. I've trried everything you can imagine to tempt her to eat but nothing what's so ever. Dd is allergic to cows milk so haven't tried her with chocolate.

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nickelbabylyinginamanger · 04/12/2012 13:31

let us know how it goes.
i think if you're BFing on demand, it should be fine (at least it'll be getting fluids and nutrition in while she's poorly).
and she might lose weight because she's ill, rather than because she's not eating iyswim.

Original poster

Gina1981 · 04/12/2012 14:21

Dd has been put on antibiotics as the doctor could hear crackling in her chest and her ears are red. She keeps coughing which is making her vomit. She is keeping very little down. I just can't see her eating after this. I don't know what to do anymore!! Do I offer food, don't I?

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nickelbabylyinginamanger · 04/12/2012 14:24

just offer her BF.
that's all she'll want and it means she can get cuddles too.
try solids again tomorrow.
(or when she's prancing around like a loon like DD does when she's poorly!)

have you tried toast today?
we ate toast and frosties...

NiceOneCenturion · 04/12/2012 15:19

Sorry to hear your dd is unwell, but yes keep bfing, in my experience it's normal for them to lose their appetite for solids for a few days when ill, she'll be fine with just milk, especially as she's still so young.

Try offering toast, or maybe cereal when she's perked up a bit, but try not to worry too much, she will eat again when she's better and ready.

Original poster

Gina1981 · 05/12/2012 09:32

Day 5 of dd being very poorly and still hasn't eaten anything whatsoever. I've tried offering toast cereals etc but not interested at all.

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NiceOneCenturion · 05/12/2012 10:37

You must be very stressed. What did the doc say with regard to food intake? Can you get any reassurance there or perhaps from your HV? I know they are usually more concerned about hydration, it might help though if they gave you an indication of when lack of solids would become a problem. Milk is still a major source of nutrients, so she is taking in some 'food'.

When my ds had bronchiolitis at 9 months he didn't eat solids for about 6 days, and he went off milk for one of those days so I know how worrying it can be.

When he had chesty things he did seem to not really want stodgy foods but he would eat fresh juicy things like sliced grapes, so maybe they go down more easily. Sweet as well, so just another idea.

nickelbabylyinginamanger · 05/12/2012 12:45

yes, that's a good point, maybe something sweet would work too.

Original poster

Gina1981 · 05/12/2012 14:19

I have offered her watermelon, bananas, cucumber etc but nothing tempts her. Doc said that appetite should pick up 48-72hrs after starting antibiotics, if that's the case then I should notice her appetite to return maybe tomorrow or Friday!! I am at my wits end now.

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Original poster

Gina1981 · 05/12/2012 14:20

She has turned her nose up at everything. When I say she hasn't eaten a thing she has literally not eaten a thing.

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nickelbabylyinginamanger · 05/12/2012 14:22

okay.
i think it's okay for you to stop offering her food if she won't take it. just keep Bfing and she'll come back to real food when she feels better.

it must be really stressful for you :(

yellowsubmarine53 · 05/12/2012 14:27

Try not to panic about her not eating solids for a few days or a week. Honestly, she'll be find on bm for this time. When the antibiotics kick in, she'll hopefully feel better and start eating again gradually.

It sounds as though your concern about you dd's eating isn't just about her being ill. I would call the HV and see if you can get an appointment for support re solid food intake.

NiceOneCenturion · 05/12/2012 15:25

She obviously very poorly, I'm sure she needs to start feeling a bit better before she will feel like eating anything, as nickelbaby says once the medication starts to help perhaps her appetite will come back.

Agree with yellowsubmarine53 though that you sound like you could do with some support with this generally.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 05/12/2012 21:30

Please don't worry about her refusing solids, she is getting everything she needs from you including cuddles and white blood cells both of which she won't get from a piece of toast .

The milk will be enough to sustain her and it sounds like all she wants at the moment. Did you know that the milk changes as your baby grows and the milk will have a much higher fat content than it did when she was younger?

While she is poorly try to concentrate on bfing and nursing her back to health. Try to eat well yourself to and rest when you can. When she is well again start offering small portions of solids again and now she's past one you can start offering solids before the bfs.

If you want to cut down on the number of bfs when she is better a BFC will be able to advise you on how to do this, try the National Breastfeeding Helpline.

There is a book that will probably help, it's called Help My Child Won't Eat. Why not read it now and it may help when you do reintroduce solids.

But please don't stress too much. I've nursed both of mine through illnesses and reintroduced solids successfully, even with dd who has always been a fussy eater.

snowtunesgirl · 05/12/2012 21:33

Gina, I think remember you from the BF forum. Sorry to hear that your DD is unwell. It's the season for it and my DD has been unwell too and I've just been offering her extra milk if she's not been feeling herself.

Original poster

Gina1981 · 06/12/2012 09:10

Thank you for all your support. I really appreciate it. Can someone post a link to the book please "help my child won't eat". I've looked it up and not too sure which one to buy. I had an awful time with my 2nd dd and all of this is bringing back the trauma. I don't mind nursing but I can very anxious when she then begins to show less interest in that too. She still hasn't eaten a thing. Dd is bf'ing less too. She has lost of a pound now. Stupid doctors don't care about her eating so I feel very alone on this

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