How do you deal with a baby who won't eat? At all?

jodynjames2005

Alice has never been big into eating. Solids, milk, whatever. It's a battle. She's small, but generally eats enough to at least keep growing. Lately, she won't eat food at all. She also started refusing her milk yesterday. Today, she had 9 oz of milk, a piece of toast, and maybe two pieces of carrots.

When we try to feed her milk, she screams hysterically, and rolls all over the floor. She won't let us hold her, either.

Any ideas?

Max'smom

Will she not eat for a day or two and then eat well? My pedi said that toddlers can go back and forth on their eating. Would she still take cereal or pruees? If Max were doing this I would try going back to baby foods for a few days. Also if she is getting over being sick it may take her a few more days for her stomach to settle back to normal. If it is going on for days at a time I would put a call into your pedi to discuss.

JillAly

My ds is definitely going through this as well.  In fact, today I had a chat with daycare about it because all he ate today was a fruit roll up and milk.  That's it- all day.  He wouldn't eat dinner at home either.  My pedi said not to worry because he's on the large side anyway.  I don't even know how it's possible since he doesn't eat!

I started giving ds liquid vitamins to make sure he's getting the nutrients he needs.  Maybe you could start doing that.  

Mrs.Reem

I've been catching up on reading about toddler behavior and most Drs agree to just let it go. When they say they're done let them down. Don't try to con them into eating just one more thing or anything like that. They'll get hungry and eat and most times won't starve themselves. I notice that some weeks K eats like a bird and others she eats like a bear. Especially if she's getting a tooth, she won't eat much.

candm

Is she teething? Rowan won't eat at all on days that her gums are bothering her (those molars seem to be taking forever to come out). Fortunately, she is still a strong nurser so I don't have to worry about it too much. Anyway, I just thought maybe Alice will pick up her eating a little in a few days if her teeth are bothering her.

goodgollie

Mrs.Reem:

I've been catching up on reading about toddler behavior and most Drs agree to just let it go. When they say they're done let them down. Don't try to con them into eating just one more thing or anything like that. They'll get hungry and eat and most times won't starve themselves. I notice that some weeks K eats like a bird and others she eats like a bear. Especially if she's getting a tooth, she won't eat much.

I agree!  I'm reading Child of Mine by Ellyn Satter and she talks a lot about not forcing your DC to eat.  The more of an issue you make it, the more attention your DC gets and the worse the behavior gets.  My DS really fluctuates in his eating and is still really small.  But I've definitely noticed that the less I push him, the better he eats at the consecutive meals.

jennhawk

I agree with pp to not make a big deal about it. I think all people have days when they just don't feel like eating much. I would offer her food, water, milk at mealtimes and let her eat as much as she wants.