HELP!!!! my child is not eating!
By rikkabren
@rikkabren (238)
Philippines
August 16, 2008 9:44am CST
Hi! just want to ask what will i do with my one year old son. He does not want to eat. He is breastfed until now. Sometimes, maybe once in a week he would have an appetite the rest would be a battle between the two of us. he just want to have his milk, milk, milk. What should i do?!? sometimes i feel that i wasnt able to perform my duties as a mother especially when he doesnt eat at all. anyone who can suggest me please im begging you to help me...thanks!
6 people like this
9 responses
@smashmellow (3)
• United States
17 Aug 08
I went through the same thing at one time. I have two girls. One is almost five and the youngest is 18 months. You can try the baby food in a jar and mix it with a little bit of milk or water. My daughters loved it and they started to eat softer foods after that. When they were teething, I would give them some mushed up cold fruit and it helped sooth their gums because it was cold and they got their nutrients from the fruit. Rice cereal in a box is good to mix with water or milk, too. They have different flavors. I do believe Gerber makes them. They are in the baby food/formula section at the grocery store. I hope this helps!
1 person likes this
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
17 Aug 08
oooo mommy lets have some fun. Make eating time a fun time... try some sliced apples with peanut butter let him put the peanut butter on himself. some fresh melon let him dip it in yogurt. This is a cool way to get children to eat healthy. another approach you might want to take is have a child of the similar age that has a healthy appetite come on over, children tend to eat more when other kids are eating. The baby is only one years old so the chances are they will not be eating alot... we as parents want our children to eat a whole lot because it makes us feel better, he will eat until he is full.
1 person likes this
@shana123 (2095)
• India
17 Aug 08
Im sorry to say this but no other go to make childeren to eat other than dumping some amount of food into their mouth while they are playing or watching tv or indulged in someother activites.. i just admire the way my siter feeds her son lol.. yes he is like your son he just push away the plate , but she used to show the cow, dog etc in the road and she talks to him he keeps starring at them at that time she just dumps in, he eventually spits the food out but again she dumps in the baby doesnt have anyother option other than eating the dumped food.. and another sister of mine she makes the child lie down on her lap she makes the food liquid and just pour the liquid food in the baby's mouth it will spit out she cathes the baby's hand and slighty she hold the baby's nose.. and to breathe out the baby just gulps the food in .. but the food which is fed shouldnt be thick if it is thick then it will get stuck in the throad.. my sisters are experts somehow they brought their daugthers and sons.. just follow the first tip which i have mentioned here..
@nanikj (26)
• United States
17 Aug 08
Your baby is getting into the age frame that is called "toddler." He doesn't need all milk because this will lead to anemia. If you start putting the milk into a sippy cup with finger foods, he will adjust. You can find many at the grocery store that are broken down into this age group. Plus you can put him in his high chair, give him small pieces of bananas,green peas,etc. Things that he can pick up with his fingers. This is a time when they like to use their thumb and forefinger to pick up things. He is learning, but you must not give in to his temper. If he stays on milk (alone) you will have a very sick baby. The women above have given you many suggestions, but I wouldn't give in to him when he doesn't eat. He will eat when he gets hungry. At this stage, his appetite is based on his growth. All children go through this, but you have to remain the parent. Don't let him govern you. Give him choices of the finger foods. He can pick and choose from those you have put in front of him. This may last for a couple of years, but as long as he is growing, there is nothing to worry about. It's a time of worry for all parents, but he will get through this.
Nanikj RN--pediatric nurse
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
17 Aug 08
With all due respect Shana123, your suggestions are dangerous. No one, especially children should lay down to eat. Holding a child's nose to make them swallow is bordering on abusive. Pouring liquid food into a child's mouth while laying down & holding their nose could lead to the child aspirating on their food.
@shana123 (2095)
• India
17 Aug 08
@Nanikj...
Hello mam.. im not a women first of all.. im still a small immature girl.. i just shared what all i have seen at my home while my elder sister do while feeding their sons and daughters.definitely the second is not what i wanted her to follow.. first one sounds good.. but anyways.. i just wanna tell you that i just shared on my view and there is no necssary for anyone to definitely follow mine.. whoever wanted to pass on their opinions can go ahead with that other than pointing out some one as all are not experts here, all share their experience and i did share my sister's experience.. thanks...
1 person likes this
@dani27 (544)
• United States
16 Aug 08
My daughter was always a pretty good eater so I don't really have personal advice just what I have heard. Do you try a lot of different things? I heard that their taste buds are not fully developed yet and so some things are really bland or have bad tastes. Have you talked to your pediatrician? Sorry. good luck.
1 person likes this
@zeny_zion (1283)
• Philippines
18 Aug 08
thats really a problem. anyways, did let her drink vitamins? it will help. buy vitamins for appetite. cook what she wants to eat. dont feed him/her anything if lunch time is coming. so she/he will feel hungry.
@i12read (57)
• United States
16 Aug 08
First, is your child gaining weight okay? If so, try not to show worry or concern about his eating when trying to feed him. Kids pick up on this real quick, and they usually will eat less if they know it gets them attention. What worked best for me was offering small amounts of different foods, even if it doesn't seem like something they would want. Mashed potatoes, banana slices, spaghetti noodles with or without sauce, dry cereal, yogurt, even cottage cheese. I let them use their fingers and didn't say anything about them having to try it. I also didn't let them see me watching them. (Shiny toasters, or even hidden mirrors, let me work in the kitchen and still keep an eye on them.) Also, some kids want to eat the same foods you do. Hope this works for you. Good luck!
@reckon21 (3479)
• Philippines
17 Aug 08
[i]I have a nephew a son of my sister,and she has also
a problem with you. My nephew was already 3 years old
but we have difficulty when it come to feed him. He dont
like rice. Sometimes we need to force him for him to eat rice.
[/i]
[/i]
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
17 Aug 08
since my svet is not yet eating as she is only three months (although we already feed her with the smallest amounts of marie [the biscuit which i think even WE were fed with when we were babies], and anything that's on the menu with broth and she can't get enough of it!), i have seen you and drix have constant battles during eating time.
do what her tita ayie does. entertain him while eating. he likes to be praised after a spoonful, so do that. clap with him if you must. dance while feeding him. as somebody else suggested (and which i think is also working for him), let him watch his favorite shows on tv while eating. i have already sent you a copy of his favorite commercials, so what you can do is burn them to a cd/dvd to keep him busy watching while you feed him little amounts of food.
and PLEASE. do ask tita ver to always cook food that drix likes, so that you won't have to resort to bringing him always to jollibee just so he'd eat. it's bloody expensive to always eat out.
