8 mo suddenly refusing to eat - any suggestions?

[moonstone1201]

Ds has generally been good with food, however at 8 months to the day (2 days ago) he's suddenly refusing to take anything - food, milk or water. I've tried sweet, savoury, mush and finger foods, but he just screams when I put anything near him
He's otherwise very content. He's sleeping all night, plus his usual naps, and his nappies are now normal, although he did have a bout of constipation last week. He just doesn't seem hungry, and I'm getting more and more agitated trying to make him eat and drink. Is this normal? Maybe to do with his teeth? MIL thinks I should stop trying to force him and he'll eat in his own time, but my mum wants me to take him straight to the doctor!

My LO did this at 7 months (well she went off her milk-she'd never really got into solids). It lasted well over a week and she did get constipated but i just kept offering her food and drink and hoped that she'd start eating again. I only gave her finger foods and she did start picking them up and eating them and then started asking for milk again. It sounds gross but during this time the only way she'd drink was out of a squirty bath toy or by sucking on a flannel!

I agree with your MIL - just let be. Don't make a fuss, offer the usual foods at the usual times. He sounds fine, just no appetite. Definitely don't get het up about it, he will learn very quickly that refusing food gets an entertaining reaction. If it goes on for long enough that he starts gettting dehydrated or dopey, or seems poorly, then go to the GP immediately.