Hi all, my son is 7 months old and was eating his baby food pretty well. It took a while to get him started on it, but once we got past that he was eating really well. A couple of days ago he got a cold and he just refuses to eat his baby food. Is this normal? My husband said that he probably just has a lesser appetite because he's been sick. He's still nursing so I'm sure that he's getting the nutrients. I was just wondering if anyone else had gone through this.
Babies always slow down when they are sick. Don't force him, cause he will know what he can do. They mainly sleep and cry when they're sick. :) Just offer, and if he refuses, he'll catch up when he feels better. Offer him plenty of liquids (juice, water, etc) to keep him hydrated. Good LUCK!
He's probably crankier and is having a hard time having food in his mouth since his nose is probably stuffed up. He can't breathe around it.
Check out Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, by the way. Very, very helpful!
Just go with the flow, leave it "off the table" - sorry for the pun - and follow his cues. When he is happy and back to his usual self, start eating something in front of him and see if he gets interested. Then you know you can put him back up in that high chair. But whatever you do, don't pressure him. Like Yaron says, no matter what happens, smile and say "Mmmmm!"
If he doesn't agree, smile, say, "ok!", take the food away and let him down. No pressure.
L.
As others have said, it's likely just the cold dampening his appetite. When he gets better, and especially when he goes through a growth spurt, he'll eat a whole lot more.
You likely have a baby advice book already, but I got a LOT of helpful advice from "Baby 411" by Denise Fields. Worth the price alone is a recipe in the back for making your own Pedialyte, so when your infant gets the flu or diarrhea, you can mix up a rehydration solution (water, salt, and sugar) that will supplement breast milk and keep his body in balance. My husband is a registered nurse and he says the recipe is basically what's given in hospitals anyway. It will save you a lot of money and worry!
Since he has a cold, his appetite is probably lower as your husband mentioned. He may also have a sore throat from drainage. We were just in the pediatrics office yesterday for 2 hours and LOTS of sickies with colds where here too. If it lasts for more than 10-12 days, you'll need for him to see the dr. also. Most likely it is turning in to a sinus infection at that point and he'll need antibiotics.
I'm sure it's the cold. When you have a cold, you lose your appetite, and nothing tastes right when you do eat - same thing happens to babies.
My daughter does the same thing and she is now almost 1 yr old. As long as he's drinking I think everything should be fine. I know it scared me the first time she did it and my pediatrician said that some children do that when they are sick. Good luck.
J. C
That's the beauty of nursing - even though he isn't eating, you can rest assured that he's getting what he needs, especially those oh-so-important antibodies (and the comfort!) This is so normal. His appetite will return when he gets better. Just offer the food, and let him determine what he wants. He may or may not get his full appetite back immediately. I have 4 children, ages 8 - 17, all breastfed. They all did this. Very normal. :)
T. - mom of 4 great kids!
Anytime my son has a cold, his appetite pretty much disappears. He'll still drink milk, but won't hardly eat anything. He might eat a bite or two of banana for breakfast, a piece of bread for lunch, and a piece of cheese for supper. I'll give him Pedialyte and milk and he's just fine. After a few days, he'll get his appetite again. If your son is still nursing well, I wouldn't be too worried about it. If you notice that he doesn't want to nurse or isn't having a lot of wet diapers, then I might call the doctor. Pretty soon he'll be eating again.
Your is like your hubby say not a huger. Think about it when you are sick to you have the same amount of hunger as when you are well. Since you are nursing him he is probably being fulled from that. I would not be to worry unless he does not go back to eating his baby food when he feels better.
yup, that's normal! My son has done that a few times when he has gotten sick. IT's the same with adults...when you are sick, do you eat as much? My son would miss a few meals a day when he was sick, but then made up for it when he was feeling better. Just as long as he's getting the fluids, he should be okay. If it still makes you uneasy, try mixing a little rice into a bottle and give him the bottle instead of nursing him.
well think about it when you are sick is your appetite real good? I would ask his doctor but your husband is right good luck
start slow but start table food with taste.tha baby need some babyfood with more nutrients thats all life is so sweet with a new baby,we all need 3 months for every month we have ptL Nana
It may just be like he said that the loss of appetite is due to being sick. It may also be that the baby is starting to cut teeth. When my children cut teeth they had a bit less of an appetite when their mouth was hurting. Keep trying to give the food and in a few days maybe a week or so the appetite should come back again.
Hi C.!!! Dont worry too much if your baby isnt eating while he has a cold. I have a 6 year old and a 4 month old. When my 6 year old, Evan,has a cold--his appetite is reduced. a lot of times the antibiotics or meds the pediatricians put the kids on, can really alter the taste of food, making the food taste different. Just keep offering it to him and when he feels better, he will eat!!!
