11 Month Old Refusing to Eat - Barberton,OH

My son did that too. As long as the doctor says he's alright, good weight, etc.,children will not starve themselves. Keep offering him foods...and when he's hungry, he'll eat!

My daughter is 10 months old and doing the same thing thank God for breast milk. I've just been giving her cherrios and whatever else she'll do herself. I swear they just want to be independent. If it goes on too long i'd call your doctor.
C.

Unfortunately kids go through ridiculous stages. My four year old son hasn't had a vegetable in a year and a half. Your son's body will not allow him to starve just keep offering a variety of foods. My daughter went through stages where she would eat only green beans for a week, then it would be a week of only applesauce, then a week of only american cheese slices. It is so frustrating as a parent, but studies show that prior to about 4 years old children will eat what their bodies need, after that is when they start asking for things for the taste. Good Luck.

Hi C.!

My 11 month old son in the doing the same thing! Fortunately, since he's still under a year, he's still on formula and getting all his nutrients from that. As my doctor has told me, introducing people food is letting him learn how to feed himself. He's not getting his nutrients from that food. He's still getting it from formula. So I don't have to worry about whether he's getting enough protein or vegetables, YET. My doctor told me he will give me guidelines and lots of information about what my son should be eating and what his little body needs at my son's 12 month check-up.

I also noticed that my son only likes to eat what he can feed himself. His just recently refined his pincher skills. So he can pick up smaller objects now (like peas). But 2 weeks ago, he could not. So he only wanted bigger items he could pick up, like Gerber Carrot Wagon Wheels, saltines, sweet potatoe puffs, etc. He wanted to do everything himself, which meant feeding him his stage 3 jar food was impossible. However, I make sure I give him a cracker and some Cheerios, so he can feed himself, while I'm giving him jar food.

Good luck! Remember, this is just a stage!

If you're breastfeeding, you really don't need to worry about him starving - to give a little perspective, some babies who are diagnosed with multiple, severe food allergies are encouraged by their doctors to breastfeed exclusively for 1 or 2 years (no solids). So if you're breastfeeding, hopefully there's some of the weight lifted off your shoulders about starving/getting sick. ;)

Your son's disinterest in solids right now could be a simple phase due to teething (pain) or some other big developmental change that's on the horizon. Always, *always* check in with your "mama instinct" and ask yourself if you think he's well or sick -- if your gut feeling is that he's not well, if you are concerned & can't shake it, if you think something is wrong, by all means take him to see your doctor. If your gut instinct is that he's healthy, alert, and normal in every way but the eating solids part, just be the good, observant mother that you already are and keep reassessing as you are already doing! :)

Hello,My name is P..
Is he getting more teeth? how long has it been going on? My 3 year old does this all the time, when shes not feeling well. My doc told me they eat when ther hungry. Is there somingthing that he wants that your not giving him. Sometimes my 3 year old will refuse to eat if she is not getting what she wants. Keep giving him food hell eat something when he realizse he not going to get what he wants.
P. S

My daughter went through a similar phase around the 44 week mark. She suddenly didnt want to be fed. I gave her as much finger food as possible (she would self feed) and snuck in as many bites of baby food as I could. It took a week or two but she did return to her normal eating habits. My theory was that she was asserting some independence?? I now try to let her explore her food as much as possible and not focus too much on exactly how much she's getting (even though it creates a giant mess at meal times!) I also started offering snacks after each nap to fill in any lacking calories. She really likes being able to self-feed. Maybe your son is going through a similar developmental growth spurt?

My oldest daugter only drank formula until she was about 15 months old! She hated baby food! After she got some teeth she started eating more adult food. Mashed potatos and green beans were her fave's. As long as your baby is still gaining weight and not losing he's fine! Hope this helps!

I am a mother of four. I had problems with my oldest son doing the same thing, he is now 12. I think I made a mistake of making him eat because of course as a mother you worry if your child is getting the nutrients they need. Well now my oldest is over eating, and has had some weight trouble. Just keep trying to get your baby to eat and if he does not, don't worry so much. His body will tell him that he is hungry. If your baby will not even eat the baby food, he is just not hungry. He will eat as soon as he hits a growth sprut, and believe me he will eat like there is no tomorrow.

I have an 11 month old daughter and am feeding her the same things. She hasn't done this to me yet. It could be possible he's going to get some teeth. Sometimes they don't want to eat when they are teething. I don't think he'll starve either. Just make sure he's at least nursing or drinking his formula, that's the most important thing. And if it does continue, check w/the Dr.It never hurts to make a quick phone call.

S.

My son has just done the same thing, he is 11 1/2 months old. The question I have for you is, is he teething by chance. My son wouldn't eat as much or hardly anything while he was teething. The only thing he would take is a bottle. As long as he is getting fluids from his bottle of breast milk or formula he is fine, according to what my pediatrician has told me. You can't force him to eat, he will return to eating when he is ready. The best way to get through it is be patient. My son also stopped eating or not eating as much when I changed his food from stage 2 to stage 3, something about the texture.
So the best advice i have to offer you is be patient and just make sure he is getting his fluids.

C., single mom of a beautiful son.