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Behaviour/development

11 month old will only eat yoghurt and biscuits, help!

8 replies

ClodiaF · 29/09/2013 09:07

Our DS has never been a good eater and now seems to be getting worse. He now rejects all the healthy meals and snacks we prepare for him with clenched jaw, shaking head, and an expression of utter horror. Eventually we have to give up and give him what he wants (basically yoghurt, rusk or occasionally a cream cheese sandwich) at which point he will tuck in quite happily. I've tried giving him healthy finger food too and sometimes he will try a little but most of it gets thrown on the floor. It's so frustrating and we are at a loss as to what to do. His diet must be lacking in so many things and he seems barely to have grown in the last four months (he is still in 6-9 month clothes). He does drink quite a bit of formula milk (about three 8oz bottles a day) which may not be helping but at least I feel he's getting something there.

I can't see any teeth that might be bothering him, I mince up his food nice and fine and I don't think he's ever had a bad physical reaction to a food. Strangely he eats a bit better in nursery, where he goes 2 days a week - maybe the other children set a good example but we don't have any more here!
I feel he is playing us but surely he's too young for that? Please please has anyone had this and found a solution that works? HV is useless btw.

OP posts:
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brightonbythesea · 29/09/2013 09:59

My DD sometimes faffs around with food and plays with it if I am watching her. I think maybe she picks up on my anxiety about her not eating and it makes her anxious too. I find if the meal is becoming like this, just put it on her tray and then turn my back and do the washing up or something, occassionally checking quickly that she's not chocking!

If I'm not watching she tends to get on with it a bit better. She likes to eat fusilli pasta twirls, broccoli trees, pieces of courgette bits of cheese, bits of tomato, pieces of a sweet fruit, raisins, breadsticks, strips of omlette. But she doesn't like to be watched! Maybe you can try the not watching approach, maybe he feels a bit anxious that you are anxiously watching him.

If he is drinking 24oz of formula a day he's getting plenty of nutrients from that so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Just keep offering bits of food, he will eat eventually.

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10000Fireflies · 29/09/2013 11:48

Clodia I would get a docs apt so you can get a referral to a paediatrician. It took three months before we got ours and another three months to see a dietician (for a problem with milk), and in the meantime the problem may solve itself. I'd read that you shouldn't worry about what they eat up until the age of one, and have a friend that maintains it's no issue up until two. Keep giving him what he will eat with the odd morsel of other stuff on the side maybe and hopefully he'll grow out of it. Good luck!

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2kidsintow · 29/09/2013 12:00

You could try the no-fuss approach. Serve up what you want him to eat (especially if it is something you know he used to eat well), don't pay too much attention - eat the same stuff perhaps. Maybe the texture has something to do with it too. Try more finger foods and fewer minced foods. My girls didn't like minced food.

They are learning pretty quickly at his age, so try very hard not to give in and give him the food he prefers as he IS learning that if he causes a fuss then he gets what he wants.

If he's having plenty of milk, then he won't starve, so I wouldn't worry about that. Just consistently offer what you want to serve.

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lorrikeet · 29/09/2013 18:36

Check out supernanny's approach:
there was an episode with a toddler who would only eat yoghurt.
There's quire a lot of supernanny episodes on youtube.

I think you might have realised what's going on in your last line... he's learning how to get what he wants Wink : Now its your job to get him eating a balanced diet, and show him he's not in control of mealtimes.

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sittinginthesun · 29/09/2013 18:41

I would also go with the non fuss approach, and also try to feed him when you are eating.

So, a plate if what ever you are eating (even if you are just having a snack of his food), sit with him, chat to him, but don't even mention the food. If he eats it, just say "well done, good eating", and carry on with your meal. He needs to copy your lead.

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IsThatTrue · 29/09/2013 18:51

If I only served DS what he actually ate that would be gingerbread man and Cheerios!

I think the best way is to relax. Shove the food on the highchair tray and don't worry about it. My DS puts most things in his mouth now but won't necessarily eat it. He's 10mo. I'd give up with mincing food, adult finger sizes are much better for self feeding.

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Misty9 · 30/09/2013 21:00

Sounds like my 2yo ds's diet... Blush
Seriously though, he's still very young and I wouldn't worry yourself too much - unless you're concerned about growth, in which case of course go to the gp. How's his weight gain?

It could be he's refusing puréed foods? Lots of babies go through this stage (we BLW ds so no personal experience) and people try finger foods with more success. Our ds was generally a nightmare to wean and lived mostly off breastmilk until he was one. Even now he'll go a day or so eating very little. They need less than you'd think.

If your ds is drinking formula still he'll be fine. Try to make food exploration fun and leave him to it :) the mess does subside, I promise!

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Brokensoul · 30/09/2013 22:24

Try eating with your baby at the same time, possibly same food - try please. My friends 1 yr old didn't want to eat anything except mush potatoes ang petit filue and now at 1.5 eats salmon, peppers etc.
My friend was munching on all the healthy staff until I quess her little one didn't decide to try it herself.
It's a hard work and kids they feel when parents are bit more anxious but don't get too opset.
As long as your baby is growing properly he will come out of it but be careful that it doesn't become a habit...

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