Baby stopped weaning for 2 months at 10 months old

[user1484843368]

BABY WON'T EAT SOLIDS (ORIGINALLY POSTED ON BEHAVIOURAL THREAD - OOPS!)

Hi there, I'm hoping someone out there has some words of wisdom as my LO stopped eating at 10 months, she was on 3 meals a day, and is now a year but won't touch solids - that's 2 months with no solids!!

It's not the taste as I've made her lots of stuff and wiped it on her lips, she licks it off with appreciation but won't eat more.

She shakes her head at the pot of food without knowing what's in it and refuses grabbing her ears (suggesting teething pain).

Baby led weaning has led to her pushing food around her high chair without a bit going in her mouth. Health visitor said to let her play with purees and food laden spoons at her high chair (instead of Baby led stuff) but this has actually confused her over the spoon eating issue more. She has played with an empty spoon and bowl since little and this did not confuse her.

Anyone out there had similar? Thanks JN

Hi Op,

My little one has been slow to wean but we do manage tiny amounts. What helped me was putting snacks on one of those little child tables throughout the day. For now I wouldn't worry about set meal times and make it more relaxed out of the high chair and what was the normal routine.

Can your little one stand to reach a small table and just leave out fresh fruit, rice cakes, bits of cheese etc and re-fresh the snacks throughout the day? Let your little one explore food at their own pace. The other thing is a little picnic with some teddy bears with you and some bits of food as well making it fun and not centring the experience around eating as such must exploring.
Do you what caused your little one to stop eating? Was it a virus or maybe a lot of teeth coming through at the same time?
There is a great book called my child won't eat by Carlos Gonzalez.

I'm sure they'll get back to eating in time, it's hard as it's such a worry but the more relaxed you can stay the better.
Xxx

Hi love travel that’s interesting. My lo is slow too and last week have had total food refusal. Did leaving bits of snacks out result in him eating proper meals eventually?

The hv justKeeps telling me to let him be messy!! I’ve been doing that for months
He does put food into his mouth but comes straight out

There needs to be a consultation with a GP to rule out any medical reason for the food refusal, as it has gone on for some time. They might refer to a speech and language therapist if its thought to be a swallowing issue, or a psychologist if no physical reason can be found. In the meantime, continue to bring the baby to family mealtimes and offer the same foods everyone else is eating. Allow the baby self feed with fingers. Take all the attention off whether or not they eat. Relax. Play some music if this helps you relax and enjoy the meal.

Thanks for all the replies. HV also told me to let her be messy, didn't help just confused her more.

LO has been to the GP, no medical explanation, plus she was at one point on 3 puree meals a day with no problem.

She did have 4 teeth coming through at the same time around the time she stopped eating and I think now we have molars on the way.

I've ordered the book on Amazon thanks for the suggestion.

Did anyone's LO just go through this and come out the other side no problems as if nothing happened?

LO goes to nursery for a few days a week starting next week, I'm wondering if that will help.

@Tryingno1 yep it definitely started to help. Just left snacks out today and she's eaten piece of banana, a small piece of rice cake and a small chunk of avocado today. Trying to replace the mid morning and mid afternoon bottle now she has turned 1 this week.

@user1484843368 I've just had my 2nd settling in day at nursery and they were little surprised she's wasn't eating that well, but like you said they think when she sees the other children eating she'll start to improve. Unfortunately today she napped and missed the lunch at nursery so hoping on the next few settling in days she'll make the lunch at least.

I think I've also been giving her too much milk as she's only tiny around the 5th percentile. But now she's turned 1 years old feel ready to start seeing if we reduce milk and increase food.
I'm sure your little one will improve and most likely linked around the teeth. I'd try leaving bits and pieces and leave out to see if that helps, then when you see some improvement your little one can join family meals again... my little girl seems to get annoyed in the high chair, but at nursery they have a little table that they sit round together- super sweet, so hoping that will also make it more enjoyable.

Maybe just taking it steady that's what I'm trying to do. I have seen threads on here were some babies didn't start really eating to 15-18 months so I think we've all got some time still to see x

Hi again,

@lovetravel2 thanks for your post this really helped. The HV rang me and has referred me to a dietician, she was really pushy 'have you done this, that etc' and then I snapped that I'm not going to force her.
I've tried reducing LO milk but she is so hungry she cries after every bottle and still won't eat solids.

Also I bought the 'My Child Won't Eat' book - it's excellent so thanks for this also.

Nursery starts properly next week and they are going to sit her with the other children and see if that helps.

If she doesn’t like the high chair, have you tried one without the tray so that she’s sitting directly st the table OP? You can get booster seats for the dining chairs or the Stokke Tripp Trapp is good.

Will she be going to Nursery full time and are you quite anxious around mealtimes?

@user1484843368 I wouldn't worry about reducing milk yet tbh. You've got time still. I've only just started reducing milk since she turned 1 (as I don't think she'll do this herself) she turned 1 a few weeks ago and it's helping a little, she's still not eaten an actual meal still, but more mouthfuls throughout the day so little steps.

For the afternoon milk, I've moved this into a skippy cup and she can drink that milk alongside her snack, I've asked the nursery to do the same. Plus have decided not to move onto cows milk for a while maybe for at least 6 more months or longer? I use HiPP Organic first instant milk and I'm also using the toddler stage 3 milk as well so a combination of both. My little on is tiny on the 5th percentile and has been a slow weight gainer from 4 months, so I feel better that she's getting milk with added vitamins and minerals.
Yes I'm also seeing a dietician at the local hospital and she also mentioned if she's still not eating then she agreed that I keep her on a formula based milk. I'm now seeing her because of poor eating, but the original appointment was about a dairy intolerance which she no longer has (or maybe never had).

Sorry probably rambling somewhat, but I think it might be good to speak to a dietician just at least to put your mind and rest and run through what you are doing. The lady I deal with is lovely, they also did some blood work to check her iron levels/ vitamin levels and they were all fine, so they might want to do those type of tests either before 1 year or afterwards?

Glad the book is of some use and yes maybe worth exploring a different high hair option mentioned by jilted, if you feel your little might be more comfortable?

Lastly we also start full days at nursery on Monday (3 days a week) Friday settling didn't go great, she's finding it hard without me, but I'm sure it will get better - keep me posted x