Hi,
My name is V. and I am a Mother of a 14 month old boy named Hayden. He will not hold his bottle or put any food in his mouth. He will only eat what I feed him. He doesn't like to chew either. I started him on biter biscuits and cheerios as soon as he got teeth but he never has taken to them at all. I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem and if this is something I should worry about. He doesn't show any interest in anything his father and I are eating. The Dr. told me to just make sure his food was pureed.
Any advise?
Thank you to all the responses I got in regards to my concerns with Haydens eating habits. I realized I had been somewhat encouraging him to not progress by not changing his routine at all. I had always had separate eating times for him and I. I decided that now everytime I have a snack I will put him in his high chair and let him watch me eat. I actually started putting my food on the high chair and he started showing some interest in it. I also would have a cartoon on the computer during his feedings which was pulling his attention away from his food. So the last couple days I havn't put any cartoons on and he fussed quite a bit but he ate his stage 3 dinners and mashed his food much better than before. I also was feeding him his dinner before his father and I would eat b/c his father gets home from work around 630 so I would feed Hayden first then prepare our dinner. Last night I prepared all our dinners at the same time and he ate his food and showed some interest in what we were doing too. He doesn't have any speech problems and he's starting to walk so I think that he's just being a typical man wanting a woman to do everything for him. This week I'm focusing on the foods and once I have him eating more foods I'll move on to the bottle. He's not in daycare and isn't around other kids very much so I realized he's never going to learn unless he sees it. I think I was the problem. Again thank you to everyone for all the great advise. I really appreciate it.
V.
I would try to give him softer food like cut up peaches and pears and see if he will go for that. You could also talk to a dentist in regards to this. It is never too early to take him to see a dentist.
My daughter was the same way. I swear I thought she would never eat. We just sort of stuck to it. My husband actually laid her the floor one day and just made her hold the bottle over and over again. It took about twenty minutes before she realized she didn't need us to hold the bottle any more. With the food issue we just stuck to a routine. I fed her as much as she would eat, which at first was nothing. Then one day she just started to eat. She didn't start chewing until recently. I would by the gerber raviolis and be so frustrated because I had to cut them up, because she refused to chew. But that too just happened one day. We were eating supper and my husband said "By god she's chewing." So I guess my advice is to just be patient with him. He'll come around. Oh by the way my daughter now has a huge appetite and our friends lovingly call her a baby garbage disposal.
Hope this helps a little.
I would take him into your doc again and have the doc do tests on muscle tone, etc...How is his speech? other motor skills? can he throw a ball? mimic you? appetite in general? is he otherwise growing and active? This behaviour is NOT typical, and although it might be a phase, it might also be a sign of something wrong. A lead test may be in order, has he had one lately? Rule out all physical causes before you decide it's a "phase"--I agree that some OT might be in order here.
Do not stress. Your son will feed himself eventually. He will chew his food. And he will eat big boy food. Every child is different. There is nothing wrong with him. He just is not ready....YET. He will be! My son is 11 months and refused baby food and just started to eat big boy food. Does he like cheerios if you give them to him? Find something he REALLY likes that you feed him and then just put it in front of him and eventually he will do it. I have a friend who's daughter refused to feed herself also but recently just started. They all will do it on their own time. Also, try soups! You still have to feed him, but he will get some different flavors and realize there is more than just pureed baby food!
get a second opinion. Was he checked for cleft palette or any medical reasons? Has he progressed in other areas? If so then maybe he is just being lazy or maybe he doesn't like the texture of solid foods. Maybe he is like my son and such a mommy's boy that he was not ready to gain independence
V.,
My son was the same way & as a result, he is now in therapy to teach him how to use his mouth muscles & speak. He receives OT, speech therapy & play therapy to encourage proper development of all the muscles he should know how to use. For him eating was a problem because he is super sensitive to all textures & most sensory stimulation. At 7 months-14 months he refused to eat cereals because it was too lumpy. Around 12 months he ate carrots until he realized they were wet & mushy. I had to feed him almost everything so he did not touch it, otherwise he would not eat it. Even now at 20 months he only eats a select list of foods (pancakes, chicken nuggets, french fries, bananas, apples, pineapple, watermelon, mac & cheese from a box only, graham crackers, most dry cereal & pretzels). I always try to offer new items, but he refuses & notice there are no veggies on his list. My friend's daughter talks & has great motor skills, but won't eat anything unless it is pureed & she is 3 years old. Her mom said she always had problems with eating & would not chew anything! She would try & swallow it whole, then choke or vomit. She is also in OT to learn how to use her whole mouth. As I discover more & more kids who have these issues, it seems most only use the front of their mouth if anything. My son just recently becan chewing with the side teeth, but this is after therapy to do so. I would highly encourage you to get your son checked out even if only for piece of mind. I only got my son checked out because he is not speaking & should be at 20 months. They did a whole evaluation & discovered it was because of all the sensory & food issues. If the child never learns to use their mouth muscles, it is harder to learn to talk. Anyway, the early intervention services we receive are free of charge (all therapy sesions are free & the therapists come to my home to work with Benjamin). Most areas have this service, you could ask your pediatrician who should know about it. -S.-
Feel free to email me for more info or with any questions ____@____.com
HI MY NAME IS A. I HAVE A 1 YEAR SON WHO HAS 4 TEETH UP TOP AND 4 DOWN BOTTEM I HAD THAT PROBLOM AS WELL AND WHAT HELPED ME IT TO TRY TO START SLOWLY ON TO A SIPPY CUP KNOW HE MAY WANT THE BOTTLE AT NIGHT BUT MAKE SURE HE GET THE SIPPY CUP DORING THE DAY THAT HELPED ME. DOSE HE HAVE A SPECIAL FOOD HE LIKE MORE THEN OTHERS? IF HE LIKES A CERTAIN FOOD GIVE HIM THAT UNTIL HE GROWS OUT OF THIS STAGE FOR MY SON IT WAS RAVIOLIES AND PASTA WOULD NOT EAT NOTHING ELSE.
I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD TRY TO HELP
TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK
A.
there are Occupational therapist trained in pediatric feeding techniques. You might want to ask your ped if they can recommend Occupational therapy for the feeding problem.
I have heard of kids with the same issues, nothing to be too alarmed about, but it could be a sensory issue, and OT's (occupational therapists) actually work with kids on this stuff. Talk to your pediatrician about it. Pureeing his food may be fine if its just a phase, but its not a long term solution if there is more to it.
Hi V.:
Has Hayden had any medical problems in the past?
S.
don't give in to quickly just keep letting go of the bottle and let her try....and let her make a mess give her a bowl of puree food something sweet like pears...and let her make a mess and have fun why you give her alittle and have her hold a spoon too soon she will get it don't go by guidlines and if you just feel something isn't right then go back to the doctor if you think something is wrong it probally is moms tuition is always right.....just trust yourself.
I would like to see the advises that you have received.
you know my son was the same way, when i would give him his bottle he wouldnt hold it until one night i decided that i was going to do it anymore he was old enough to do it hisself and as soon as i stop doing it for him he started holding it he was just being lazy. he knew he didnt have to do it cause i was going to do it for. maybe thats what he is doing. try not to do so much for him i know that sounds mean but it worked for me maybe it will for you.
Hi V.~ My daughter was a tough eater. She would not even look at food until she was just about 16 months maybe 17 months. She was at daycare and took another child's sandwich. But up until that point showed NO interest in solid food.. Not even applesause. She would gag the second you gave her something that wasn't stage 2 baby food.. (couldn't do stage 3) I think maybe just give a little bit of time ( see what else your ped recommends) your doctor may recommend a eval to see if he has problems with texture.. That was my daughters next step. Good luck
