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Weaning

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

Original poster

My nearly 13 month old won’t eat at all

40 replies

Samantha1571 · 19/11/2023 21:58

So it’s been 7 months now since we started weaning our LO and he will not eat any solids at all. It’s been a long battle and we just don’t know what to do anymore. Even our health visitor doesn’t know what to do. She basically told us to just keep trying. All he wants is his milk…we have tried every single thing to get him to eat. We even stopped giving him milk for hours and hours before we tried to give him food/purees but he wasn’t having none of it…he won’t even drink water either so I’m also worried he may get dehydrated if we stop his milk. I basically just want to see if anyone has been in the same position as us and if their LO finally started eating? I’m just really worried about him and I don’t know what to do.

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/11/2023 18:57

Aren't they eating at all? Sometimes it looks as though they're not eating much but the nappy output tells a different story Wink

Is he might weaned and how did he score on his 12 month check?

Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 07:02

He isn’t eating at all. When we give him food, he throws it straight on the floor. We have tried everything. We have seen his health visitor and they don’t know what to do anymore. They said to just keep on trying

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PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 22/11/2023 07:09

My middle one refused to eat until 12 months or so, then seemed to switch almost overnight to eating everything. He's 14 now and still a big food fan.

Are you eating alongside him? I think it is worth trying to do that every time even if you have just cut up some cucumber sticks for yourself or something if you're not hungry. He may be more tempted to copy you or take some of your food.

Are you offering puree or baby led weaning? Does he put other things in his mouth to explore them - toys for instance?

Foxrouge · 22/11/2023 07:11

My first child wasn’t interested in solids until around 13 months. Didn’t get any teeth until then either which I wondered might be related.
Even when they did start eating it was half a breadstick, a couple of raisins, one bite of cheese etc for ages.
I don’t have any advice because nothing I tried worked but I do remember how stressful and worrying it was so am here if you need to vent.

Mothersruin123 · 22/11/2023 07:16

My daughter didn't refuse food completely but ate little apart from yoghurt and puffy crisps until she was 13 months old and went to nursery. Once she saw all the other kids eating it seemed to click. Wonders of herd mentality!

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 22/11/2023 07:35

If he's not eating at all I'd night wean first. Eat breakfast with him and offer him milk in a cup alongside the solids.

Putting him on your knee whilst you eat might encourage him to reach out and take something.

If that doesn't work, id ask for a referral to an SLT.

The book My Child Won't Eat is supposed to be very good too Wink

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 22/11/2023 12:47

Just had another thought. He hasn't got Tongue Tie by any chance? My DS had a tie and really struggled with anything other than super smooth purées until he was 12 months.

Mischance · 22/11/2023 12:56

There will come a point when he will eat - he will not be on an all-milk diet when he is in his teens!

It is not ideal, but as long as he is healthy and passing his milestones reasonably OK I think the HV is right - just keep offering it to him - he will come round eventually.
Perhaps offer him something a bit naughty - something sweet? Tsk, tsk!

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 22/11/2023 19:37

We're there any other concerns in his 12 month check?

Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 20:39

I do eat in front of him but he still isn’t interested. I managed to get him to eat some puree today but it’s always a battle and I can be sitting there for ages until he opens his mouth. Most of the time, he will have a meltdown and become so hysterical.

he always puts toys in his mouth which I just don’t understand.

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Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 20:41

He has five teeth but he still is the same. I did manage to get him to eat some puree today but it was still a battle. I know he will eventually get there but I really hope it won’t take months and months. It’s been 7 months already and some days I just feel like giving up. I see all these babies his age eat and it really upsets me that he isn’t like that.

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 22/11/2023 20:47

Does he go to Nursery or do you take him to any Playgroups? I'm just wondering what he does when the other DC sit and eat.

Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 21:35

I haven’t tried it with him sitting on my lap so I will try that tomorrow and see.

I am going to ring the doctors tomorrow anyway to see if they can help. He is also constipated and that’s probably because he only wants his milk and not solids or water.

I will look into that book. Thank you ☺️

And no, he never had a tongue tie

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Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 21:43

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻 he will sometimes eat the snack puffs which the HV team don’t recommend but I don’t care, as long as he is eating them

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Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 21:46

Not really. He doesn’t say any words at the moment though but he used to say ba ba and ma ma so it’s not like he has never said anything. I think they can sometimes go through a phase.

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Original poster
Samantha1571 · 22/11/2023 21:48

He doesn’t go to nursery but he is around other babies as my partners brother has a daughter the same age as him and he also has two friends who have girls the same age. We do go to play groups now and again but the LO don’t eat there

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Mischance · 22/11/2023 22:01

I don't think you should battle with him - that will set up a huge negative psychological loop and delay him eating other food. Offer it - if he doesn't want it just smile and eat it yourself!

Any hint of a battle will just make things worse.

Leave some very soft finger food lying around not on the high chair/table or any meal-oriented place. Plonk it in a plastic bowl on the sofa.

MeMyselfandCake · 22/11/2023 22:11

Have you tried messy/sensory play using food? Cooked spaghetti, custard, jelly, cornflakes, spaghetti hoops etc. He might just try some bits while playing and it takes the pressure off both of you.

If mealtimes become a battle I would try to not to stress and just take the food away until the next meal (easier said than done, I know.) My son went through a phase where everything I gave him was wrong and the more stressed and worried I got the less he'd try. In the end I just plonked different foods in front of him and pottered around the kitchen pretending to ignore him and he slowly started eating bits when he thought I wasn't watching.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 23/11/2023 06:53

Ok so if he's constipated which milk is he on? Follow on and toddler milks have high amounts of iron which can often cause constipation.

Please also mention that he used to say mama & dada and now he's stopped.

He could just be spending his efforts developing another skill, like walking but I would definitely mention constipation, not eating and losing skills.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 23/11/2023 07:06

Sorry forgot to say I'd also ask for a referral for a hearing test.

MidnightOnceMore · 23/11/2023 07:25

We even stopped giving him milk for hours and hours Do not do this.
Give the milk on the correct timeframe, it is the basis of their nutritional wellbeing.

The mantra I was taught by the NHS was 'food before 1 is just for fun' - so from 6-12 months the nutritional needs are met by milk, with a very gradual increase in calorie intake from solids.

I would remove all pressure, offer a wide range of baby-led weaning foods as they refuse the spoon (many babies dislike puree) and see your GP urgently for a health check, to make sure your baby is fundamentally well.

Mention everything to the GP, including the speech. Write a list so you don't forget anything.

2024writeanovel · 23/11/2023 07:28

Do you all eat together at a table?

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 23/11/2023 19:24

How are you both today @Samantha1571? Were you able to send the GP?

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 24/11/2023 21:35

Sorry, meant "see the GP".

Original poster
Samantha1571 · 25/11/2023 14:57

We have done but he just plays with it. It was a good few months ago now so maybe I should try it again and see if he eats them. Thank you ☺️

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