My son will be a year old next month and over the past 3 weeks he has started refusing table food. He only seems to want 4-8oz of formula several times a day. Prior to this he was eating three meals and two snacks a day and only having formula with breakfast and at bedtime. Is this normal behavior? Has anyone else had this issue? He seems to feel fine and occasionally will eat table food but before he couldn't seem to get enough and now he just wants bottles. My mom said that he may be cutting his "stomach teeth"? Opinions, Ideas, Advice! Thanks
Edit: He has been eating table food and loving it since he was 9 months old, he won't take baby food at all anymore.
I started adding baby food along with the table food. I made him popsicles out of his fruit juice and I have only been giving him a bottle close to bedtime. He seems to be doing much better now. He is eating again, not quite as well but way better. Thanks for all the advice!
Has he recently been vaccinated and/or have his stools changed? Does he have any other issues that look like sensory issues?
He's either teething or may have a sore throat. My son wouldn't eat but didn't show any signs so when I had his pediatrician look at him he had sores in the back of his throat. Eating solids hurt him so he quit eating. Make sure it's nothing medically wrong. If not then I agree with the other mom and it may just be teething and switch to soft foods like soft noodles and alfredo sauce , mac and cheese, soft rice and gravy. Good luck!
could very likely be teeth...my 18 month old always seems to change big timei when that happens and he really doesn't eat much during that time either...
i wouldn't worry too much. keep offering the foods. we do a lot of frozen fruit because the cold feels good on his gums...might be worth a shot.
I haven't read the responses, but get rid of that bottle! I took mine off at 8 months. I put breastmilk in the sippy cup or formula until 1 yr. It may be a really hard day or two, but it will only get worse if you wait. With my first child, the pediatrician recommended it. With my last, my pediatrician praised me (diff town, diff doctor).
If it is teething, I'd buy some baby food for him.
If his mouth is hurting from cutting his molars, it could cause him to not want to eat. You may have already heard this, if so, I'm sorry to be so slow
sounds like it is teething. will he eat jar food? I would give him soft noodles, green beans cut up very small so he does not have to really chew them. Keep offering him the table food, but be very careful to not have anything too big so he does not have to bite down as much. Also if he is coming off of baby food he may not like the taste of real food. Some babies are very finicky. As much as he needs nutrition, I would not give in every time to the bottlem, but rather continue a normal eating schedule.
My son did the same around the same age. I started giving his table food, not baby food, to eat. Such as corn, peas, cheese, fruit,etc. Then gave him just a little formula. (Enough to satify nutritional requirements though). I also started milk a week early and he loved the milk! Hopefully the changes that worked for me will work for you. But, babies are all different so he may not. Then, you can consult your pediatrician at your one year visit and just continue what he likes until then. By the one, they only get pickier with age. Mine is now three and been struggling with his eating for years. They are picky picky!!!
Does sound like teething - is he taking any soft table food, like mac & cheese? If so, rack your brains for soft food choices for him. Good luck!
My daughter did the same thing. I was so worried because she had been such a good eater. Come to find out a couple of teeth popped through right after her non eating phase. In fact she is 18 months now and for the past two to three weeks I could hardly get her to eat anything but I knew she was teething this time because she could tell me her mouth hurt. She just popped through two eye teeth and for the past two days she has eaten non-stop. Maybe that is what is going on with your son!
I know this may not be what you or other moms want to hear...but I had this EXACT problem with my son (who is now 13 months old). My son only wanted his bottle and stopped eating food. I got advice from friends who told me not to give him his bottle (yes, he was still taking formula too and not whole milk); even my mom told me not to give him is bottle. I used to give him his bottle like 4 times a day and especially first thing in the morning when he woke up. Well, I finally took their advice...and let me tell you that it DID work for my son. He was also getting his front molars at the time and was a little fussy. My advice is to go cold turkey with him and take his formula away until he eats something. Trust me, when he gets hungry enough...he WILL eat. He is also less likely to eat something anyway if he has a full tummy of milk you know. Have you tried a frozen, breaded chicken strip. I buy them and heat it up in the microwave for about 1 minute and then cut it up for him. My son loves it. Also peanut butter on crackers. Good luck!
Have no idea what in the world "stomach teeth" are, but my youngest also sometimes backs off the food when teeth come in. He'll eat less, or when he was younger would want to nurse alot more, but this only lasted about a week or two. Anyway, hopefully all will return to normal soon.
As with all baby behavior, it is just a guess as to what is wrong. While he is going through this you are going to have to be strong and make sure he gets enough nutrition and doesn't form bad habits. Yes, he can have an off day or two but he doesn't get to control everything because he really doesn't know what is best. Limit those bottles. He should be eating because he is growing at a good clip at 1 yr old.
