17 month old won't eat anything

[Lucy304]

Please help, I'm at my wits' end.

We have been trying to wean DD since she was 6 months old. We've tried everything. Everything. Other than that, her development has been normal.

Anyway, at her paediatric appointment last week, we were told enough is enough. Take away the formula completely and have finger foods out all of the time so she can help herself. The thinking is, if she's hungry, she'll eat.

Except, she won't.

We're now on day 5, and apart from a bottle of cow's milk in the morning, and again in the evening (which we were told to give her), she doesn't have anything. No food or liquid of any description between about 7 am - 6 pm. She refuses everything.

How long can we keep this up? Will she eventually give in? It seems so wrong.

My smiley, happy, chatty little girl is now sad, lethargic and, at times, completely inconsolable. It's breaking my heart. Please help.

Just wanted to say that I'm going through something very similar with my just turned 15 month old who like your daughter is also extremely strong willed. The one thing that has worked a tiny little bit is to give her something to "hold" when she is in her buggy and we are going for a walk. She will often at least nibble on something, probably because she feels like nobody is watching her.
How's your daughters weight gain/growth?

My son was exactly like this and when he was six it was officially diagnosed that he had little sense of smell ( to the extent that as an adult he takes his own smoke dectector when overnighting anywhere) and few tastebuds. Perhaps if ear nose and throat checked her out? My son refused food and only wanted formula or cows milk and had no interest in weaning.

You must be at your wits end, you’ve given it a go, trust your instincts and give your little one what she wants and then start asking the medics many questions.

@Lucy304 I know this is an old thread now but I just wondered how you've got on. I'm at my wits end with my now 17 month old. I really can't get her to eat.. relying heavily on formula and feel like I'm failing her

@Fantail86 I'm sorry you feel like you're failing your DD, I felt exactly the same. Please try and be reassured that you're not. We're all stumbling through this parenthood thing trying to do the best we can. Please try not to be hard on yourself.
In terms of how things are going for us... Progress is happening, albeit slow! We have now dropped to one bottle of formula per day, before bed. Previously we were doing two, first thing and last thing. First thing she now has cows' milk, and again before her afternoon nap. This means she still gets some fluid inside her (refuses plain water) but isn't full up like when she was having formula. Three times per day we spoon feed puree, she now eats a whole pouch each time. This was just perseverance, to begin with she would refuse or only have one or two spoons. We just used to remove it without fuss and try again later. Eventually she discovered they tasted okay and now she opens her mouth willingly for them. Recently we have tried with lumpier stuff eg porridge, again we are getting one or two spoonfuls before refusal. We will persevere as before, hopefully she will eat more as time goes on. Once happy with this, we will go another step up. We still offer finger foods all the time, sometimes she will put them to her mouth and even lick them, which is a massive step forward for us. But definitely no chewing or swallowing of these things yet. I think we will get there, it will just take time. It's hard but what seems to have worked for us is being chilled about it. Going cold turkey on formula didn't work for us, she was hungry and miserable and I was stressed because I knew it wasn't healthy for her. Cutting it down was better, she was a little bit hungry and therefore more open to trying new things but I was content that she was still getting nutrition from her formula, so wasn't too bothered if she didn't eat much puree at the beginning. She also has baby vitamins (liquid) once per day as we were told formula isn't enough once they are over one. We use the Baby Well one. She's at the lower end in terms of weight (on the 25th centile) but still within the healthy range, so we just check this about once a month and try not to worry about it. My DD is a cautious child generally, and only does things when she's ready. It's hard at times, especially when you're bombarded with what they 'should' be doing, or what other people's children are doing. But I'm just trying to go with it now. She is who she is and no amount of fretting will change her. I know it's easier said than done though, especially with our PFBs! Good luck xx

@Lucy304 thank you for taking the time to reply, it really is a slog. My daughter clearly finds it really difficult/scary. I'm trying to help her feel less overwhelmed by eating so lots of sensory stuff (aka mess making). She's quite happy with the play side of things (always has been to be honest) but the transition to actually eating has never really happened. I guess I'm in for a bit of a slog.
Really pleased that you've had progress, it does give me hope!

[quote Fantail86]@Lucy304 thank you for taking the time to reply, it really is a slog. My daughter clearly finds it really difficult/scary. I'm trying to help her feel less overwhelmed by eating so lots of sensory stuff (aka mess making). She's quite happy with the play side of things (always has been to be honest) but the transition to actually eating has never really happened. I guess I'm in for a bit of a slog.
Really pleased that you've had progress, it does give me hope![/quote]
Do you eat separately to your DD at all? My DS is quite fussy but is slowly trying more things at 33m. If j am eating something he likes the look of he'll just come over and take it.

Just a thought!