My Baby Don't Reject to Eat Solid or Table Foods

My little girl used to bite me too. I think she was just trying to show affection. We kiss and nuzzle babies. They try to imitate us and end up using their teeth because they don't know better. Just pull her away and say "Don't bite." She'll get the idea.

It is quite likely that your baby is not eating etc. because of the ear infection. She is sick and when we're sick we tend not to eat. What she needs now is lots of fluid.

Also she is more comfortable nursing because of the way our ears are made. Sucking on something affects the pressure in our ears. That is why they recommend chewing gum or sucking on a hard candy when one changes altitude as the plan takes off.

Re: the biting is a stage that most kids go thru. She also may be biting because she is not feeling comforted while you try to get her to eat and drink what you want her to eat and drink.

Do not try to get her to use a sippy cup now. Save any new changes until she is well. Change is difficult. She's sick and needs what she is used to having.

Have you tried any of the enhanced beverages made for babies who are sick as your's is? I can't think of any names right now. Others will tell you.

You've been dealing with a sick baby for quite some time now. You must be worn out. Is there a way that you could take breaks even if it's just a walk around the block without your baby?

I agree with Marda. Alexa needs lots of fluids (nursing is also good for the comfort aspect). She'll probably go back to solids when she feels better. Other than that, all I can say is she should see her pediatrician.

Ditto with Marda.

It's suuuuuuuper common for babies/toddlers to give up solids while they're sick...and then it typically takes about a week after they're well to be totally back to normal.

Also, dairy makes us ALL more mucousy/phlegmmy. It's better to avoid it (except for nursing) whenever you're sick.

The biting is PROBABLY related to the ear infection. It feels good when you're ears are plugged to uopn your mouth wide and bite. She's actually quite clever, most kids don't figure out how to "pop" or clear their ears like that until they're at least 8 or 9 years old.

One thing though...if you haven't...take her to the Ped. DO so. 4 weeks is a looooong time to be sick.

Hi M.,

It's great that you are still nursing. When you nurse her she gets some nutrition and water. Also she gets antibodies from you that can help her fight her sickness. It's pretty normal for babies to not eat when they are sick. But 4 weeks is a long time to be sick. Can you take her to a doctor or a clinic? I think that once she feels well again she will eat.

I never gave my kids whole milk, but they each nursed longer than 2 years. I figured, why give cows milk when my milk is made just for them?

Others are right that teething could be causing her to not eat and also to bite. Try giving her cold teething biscuits or teething toys (keep them in the freezer) to chew on.

I suspect she is teething. You might give her something solid and safe to chew on before she wants to nurse. My children really did not like the teething rings. I used a large cold clean carrot when my children were young. I also used an ice cube in a clean wash cloth and these both seemed to help. I hope it helps!

Sometimes chewing can hurt when you have an ongoing ear infection. She may be in pain. You don't say what she is consuming or how much. Is she nursing at the breast or a bottle? Have you tried baby rice or oatmeal cereals mixed with applesauce or bananas? When you say she eats snackies, what are they? If you don't feed her snackies, not allowing her to graze through the day she might be more apt to eat at 'meal times'. As far as drinking whole milk, she may not like the taste of it. I breastfed all of my kids and my youngest would not drink whole milk but would consume 2% milk any and everytime it was offered. Milk is not his favorite beverage, but we made sure he got his calcium in other ways, like cheese, yougurts, cottage cheese and ice cream. If she has an ear infection is she on antibiotics? Sometimes these drugs make you nauseous, and maybet she has associated food and drink with stomach aches. Talk with your pediatrician.

Biting maybe her way of getting your attention. She can't hear very well if she has an ear infection. All of this inhibits her communication skills. Tell her NO firmly when this happens. Cry so she knows that she hurt you. Biting ia another exploration technique. She learning what it can do, the power of the bite, cause and effect. So you need to tell her No! and cry when she bites. Let her know it hurts in terms, in a way that she can understand.

A trip back to the pediatrician is needed though if she's had this ear infection for 4 weeks. At her age it impacts her learning and speech development in addition to the health issues. Get well soon!!

I'll start with biting. Biting is a big no, no. When she bites, hold her away from you and say, "no, no biting". Do it with out emotion. Just hold her away from you.

Try giving her rice milk, instead of whole milk. It has calcium, and all the vitamins of cow's milk. Additionally, it will not cause the mucus build up that cow's milk does.

Please remember with with toddlers and babies, there are three things you can not do, make them eat what you want them to eat, make them go to the bathroom when you want them to, and make them sleep when you want to. It is an hard fact that parents have to accept.

I would make sure her snacks very healthy, and slowly increase the amount of food offered. Move the snacks to meal times.

Additionally, I would check to see if she is getting new teeth.

Good luck.

You might also try the baby washcloths rolled up with one end wetted, then freeze a few of these in a zipper bag or container. Pull one out when she needs to chew on something. The non-wet side of the rolled cloth makes it more comfortable to hold and the cold and soft cloth is nice for biting. It gives some and can conform to the area in need of soothing.

Kids can survive on breast milk and you could start her out on sipping water from a cup.

If she is teething, it may be bothering her ears, as well. Keep an eye on whether she is pulling or complaining about her ears.

Good luck to you and your little one.
D.

It is difficult when your baby is sick and rejecting food, my advice on that would be to keep introducing foods to her, if she is teething her appetite will come and go, so some days she may eat los and others not so much.

ABout the biting, I have a friend and her baby started biting because they would playful bite/gum her cheeks and neck, so their little girl started doing it not to be mean or hurt anyone but because she was modeling behavior. So, if that is something you do perhaps stop with the biting and try raspberries or softer kisses?

Good Luck, I hope she feels better soon!

-- oh, that's hard, M.--- you are both in my prayers. Regarding the biting --- she likely isn't mad at all- she doesnt know it hurts - she's likely getting teeth ( that MAY be why she doesnt want to eat solids---it may hurt her) - and biting on something smooth ( like skin) feels good. When she does that -- squeal or scream ''' OW!!!!!!!!!!!!! --- and then offer her somethiing else to bite on--- there are special toys you can buy and keep in the freezer--- some moms have discovered that their babies like to chewe on a frozen bagel--- keep trying -- she'll feel better- and I do hope it's soon.

Blessings,
J.

You are not alone. Both of my kids didn't like solids when they were sick or teething. And would just nurse more. It made me very thankful that i have a good milk supply. One important thing to remember is that Breastmilk is the best most complete form of food there is. i know we feel pressure to make sure our kids are eating solids and stop breastfeeding at one year, but it isn't necessary. I am still nursing my almost 3 yr old and 16 month old. They are just as picky as any other kid when it comes to solids, so it makes me feel better that their diet is complete because of my milk.
At the moment my 16 mo old has pnemonia and is nursing every 2 hours again. My milk supply is back full force, It's comforting, hydrating and nutritious. when he is better he won't be as interested again and go back to 4 to 6 times a day. If you would like support or information i incourage you to La Leche League. Some times it just feels better to talk with other moms going through the same thing.

Hope this helps

Neither one of my children ate much solid food at 12 mo., mostly nursed or picked at some solid food. It's normal, and she will eat more and different food when her body tells her too. With an ear infection you want to avoid dairy, like milk and yogurt, because it will create more mucous and possibly contribute to plugged ears.
The biting... could she be teething? I would tell her sharply "no" right when she does it, and pull her away. I bet it is a phase that will soon pass.
I wish you and baby the best!

J.

Well, a few things. FIrst, it is normal for baby not to eat while sick. As long as she nurses, she is getting good nutrition. Since she has a ear infection, I would never give her dairy, meaning milk, which I was told by my pediatrican can cause ear infections in the forst place & people should be very careful when introducing milk intot a babies diet. She said to watch for rashes, mood changes, diarrhea, etc. Your baby is just 12 months old & will still rely on nursing alot, so please don't push her to eat "table foods" & especially milk if she is rejecting them. Your baby has been sick for awhile now & I suggest you go see Dr. Kate Wiggin who has helped our little boy alot when he was sick for a long time.Her number is ###-###-#### & she does house calls! Good luck.

Hi M.,

When my kids (2 and 3) were teathing they would often not want to eat - it seems like it would come in spurts that lasted 1-2 weeks. Just make sure she is drinking enough milk (breastmilk or other) and keep offering her things. My kids have toothburshes with kind of fat soft handles and they like to chew on them, or ice cubes. Hope she feels better soon, good luck.