Help with 11mth old. Eating issues

[IndigoJ]

DS2 is 11mths old on Sunday. He doesnt eat very well. He refuses to eat anything (except jarred custard) off a spoon/fork/finger. He also doesnt sleep more than 2hr blocks.
I believe the non-eating has something to do with it. He does eat finger foods but only gets 1-2tablespoons of food down at each sitting (eats 3-4times a day). He is still fully breastfed.
When he was born his weight was above the 97th %ile. Then he dropped to the 75th %ile. Now he is below the 50th %ile. His weight is steadily dropping. Between 6mths and 9mths he only put on 500g. He is now 9.2kg which is only a rise of 70g in two weeks.
The nurse i saw suggested i feed him cows milk at lunch ect. But this doesnt sit well with me. I dont feel he needs cows milk, but with his little weight gain i dont know any more. Any ideas? Any one been through this with an older baby.
He still breastfeeds every 5hrs. He also wakes 5-6times a night and at least once over night refuses to go back to sleep without a feed.

[Happy2be3]

Sounds like my son whose now 4. He did end up having a speech disorder though which caused his issues, im sure it's nothing like that going on. Just wanted to say that he did drop from percentile the minute he started solids and has been 4th% ever since. He is however healthy, gets enough nutrients from the small amounts he does eat.

Whatever u do, DONT make food an issue.. You do NOT want food aversion issues from being too forceful. Be cool, calm and don't stress. Even if his % drops its no biggie, so long as he's getting bm still and is trying small regular foods I would not stress!

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[IndigoJ]

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[Rose&Aurelia]

Can you increase his breastfeeds during the day? That way he might feed less overnight. At that age DD was breastfeeding 5 -7 times in 24 hrs. Early am, mid am, occ midday, mid pm, post nap, bedtime with 1-2 overnight feeds.

This feed pattern only dropped to 2-3 at 14/15 mths when she went to 1 sleep a day.

[IndigoJ]

I have tried that. I was feeding him every 2-3hrs, he still woke overnight.

[wigglemum]

Hi, my 22 month old doesn't eat. It is related to his severe silent reflux, duodenal ulcers and iron deficiency. It's all related. Perhaps get a referral to a paed gastro and have a chat. I'm in Sydney so I can highly recommend someone for you. Best wishes.

[wigglemum]

Oh and he doesn't sleep for more than 2-3 hours EVERY night, and wakes for bottles. Best wishes

[IndigoJ]

We only have a visiting Paed here. He/she comes about once a month. He has been seen by two so far and neither think he has reflux. He is happy and looks healthy, but doesnt eat or sleep and is slowly dropping down on the charts

[hopefully2]

I know you probably don't want to hear this but I think he is still relying heavily on breast feeds and is too full for solids.

I would reduce breast feeds to two feeds a day. For example, One before lunch sleep and one before night time sleep. He needs nutrients from meat, vege, dairy.

I would really seek advice from a pedeadtrician.

[wigglemum]

Yes, my little boy looks happy and is a barrel of laughs. But just won't eat or sleep. He's a great size too. He has everyone confused, but just won't sleep or eat. Can you get some bloods done by a gp? Even something like iron deficiency is enough to make them not eat or sleep. I hope you find an answer.

[trishalishous]

breastmilk is more calorie dense than solids.
id add a bf and make sure all his solids are high in good fats, like avacado, tuna etc.
at 12months dd was easily feeding 6 times a day, plus 5 solid meals/snacks.

[hopefully2]

breastmilk is more calorie dense than solids.
id add a bf and make sure all his solids are high in good fats, like avacado, tuna etc.
at 12months dd was easily feeding 6 times a day, plus 5 solid meals/snacks.

Yeah calories might not equal the right nutrients...worth investigating I think.

[IndigoJ]

I know you probably don't want to hear this but I think he is still relying heavily on breast feeds and is too full for solids.

I would reduce breast feeds to two feeds a day. For example, One before lunch sleep and one before night time sleep. He needs nutrients from meat, vege, dairy.

I would really seek advice from a pedeadtrician.

Ive seen two separate Paeds. Both suggested cutting out night feeds and putting him on a 4-5hrly breastfeeding routine. As he wants to feed around the clock, meaning he doesnt sleep. They suggested i refuse night feeds and feed more often (but on a schedule) during the day. Im really lost. I feel that i shouldnt substitute his breastfeeds as thats the only thing he is getting nutrients from. Should i starve him to make him eat?

[hopefully2]

Not at all suggesting starving him just suggest shifting the focus from breast to solids.

You could try it for a day or two and see if it works.

Perhaps call a help line. I am in wa we have nagalla, not sure where u r or what help is available in your state.

Going to the GP for full bloods is a good idea.

Good luck. Hope u find a solution soon.

[misskittyfantastico]

Ive seen two separate Paeds. Both suggested cutting out night feeds and putting him on a 4-5hrly breastfeeding routine. As he wants to feed around the clock, meaning he doesnt sleep. They suggested i refuse night feeds and feed more often (but on a schedule) during the day. Im really lost. I feel that i shouldnt substitute his breastfeeds as thats the only thing he is getting nutrients from. Should i starve him to make him eat?

Breastmilk truly is a superfood it's nutritionally perfect and high in calories, so I'd be wary about denying him feeds. Food is fun until they're one and I agree with this but it has to be exhausting for you - would you consider contacting the ABA?

[Rose&Aurelia]

I have tried that. I was feeding him every 2-3hrs, he still woke overnight.

Did that help his weight gain? Babies take to solids differently and In their own time. But with the weight loss I'd offer more boob.

[Rose&Aurelia]

Yeah calories might not equal the right nutrients...worth investigating I think.

I don't understand. How can breastmilk not have the right nutrients. I'm not having a go at you. Just genuinely interested.

[IndigoJ]

Did that help his weight gain? Babies take to solids differently and In their own time. But with the weight loss I'd offer more boob.
Hes only gaining about 30-40grams a week. Has been from 6mths onwards. They are telling me not to worry, but the fact that he doesnt sleep, and doesnt eat much and isnt following one line on the graph makes me worry.
At this age I offer solids first then sleep then milk when he wakes up.

[hopefully2]

I don't understand. How can breastmilk not have the right nutrients. I'm not having a go at you. Just genuinely interested.

Look it up online, there is higher concentration of iron and zinc in solid foods Than in breast milk.

There are great implications on speech when they dont use jaw muscles too.

I seriously recommend seeking further advice. I am by no means an expert.

I always think a mothers instinct is the best guide so if all else fails trust your instinct. Also if the child health nurse says don't stress then you shouldn't.

[Benji]

Problem is if you start dropping breastfeeds, chances are he will still dislike solids and your supply will decrease and he will be getting even less.

I'd *try* when he wakes, offer food before breastmilk. That way he's surely hungry and may be willing to try some cereal or whatever. The he can have his milk.

Is there anything he will eat? Anything at all he likes? Mine wasn't too bad ​with solids although I was shocking and was tiny, it was only when we moved to Budapest that my parents discovered I loved the food there and their problems were solved! Even though I was eating basically the same things, I was getting nutrients from BM and fattening up from the Hungarian sausages.

[IndigoJ]

He goes through stages.He loves fruit and will happily eat banana,grapes, plums. He sometimes eats cruskits with avo and cream cheese or tuna and cream cheese (laughing cow cheese). Though its very hit and miss. Her plays with vegies but doesnt eat them. He eats sultanas, cranberries, squeezy yogurts and arrowroot biscuits. He wont eat anything off a spoon except jar custard. He tries to feed himself but doesnt get much down. The Paed expressed concern(even scheduled fortnightly weigh ins) but the health nurse didnt care,she suggested i feed him on the floor with DS1 to encourage copying, and she suggested i give him cows milk. It sounds like he eat slots but most days he plays with it, he only gets about 6tbsp of solids a day, sometimes less.

[hopefully2]

Keep up those fortnightly weigh ins and see the pead regularly.