fussy 8 month old

[macsmum]

Hi,

Just looking for some advise. I have an 8 month old who is allergic to cows milk, he is also a very fussy eater.

He has a bit of a sweet tooth, he eats his rice cereal, fruit, I have to usually force vegies into him and he will only eat certain ones. If he doesnt like them he gags and vomits ( and I am not talking a litte vomit).

I have just started to try him on some bread, which he does nibble on but a couple of minutes later the throws. I thought maybe his little tummy wasnt ready but at 8 month you would think the basics would be fine.

I am running out of options what to feed him, because he cant have any dairy, I am limited to what I can give him to fill him. I have heard you should steer clear of yogurt before they are 12 mths if they have allegies, he is still on 4 soy bottles a day so I know he is getting what he needs. He never seems hungry and is gaining weight but he cant drink bottle forever

Any advice would be great.

[the pero clinic]

Dear Macsmum,

Allergy or intolerance to dairy shouldn’t mean that your bub’s choice of food has to be overly limited. Yes, you should avoid dairy based products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and custards if an allergy has been identified. He should, however, be able to enjoy a variety of cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and legumes.

At 8 months old, your son should also be able to manage a range of foods (those mentioned above) in the form of smooth purees, lumpy and mashed purees, and be starting to eat finger foods. If he is having trouble with certain textures and food consistencies (such as gagging or avoidance) than the issue may be more about his oral skills or sensitivity than actual tastes or his digestive system.

In terms of the bottle, he should be having 100mL of formula / kg of bodyweight each day. I am not sure how much your son weighs, or how much formula he is having. Is it possible that he is filling up on milk and is not hungry for solids. Having said that, you need to make sure that he is first able to manage a larger solids diet orally, and with his tummy.

You can talk to a paediatric dietitian about food options and alternatives to take care of your son’s allergies, and a paediatric feeding and swallowing specialist for any concerns with your son’s fussy eating or difficulty in the oral management of food. It is great that you are trying to get on top of this while he is still young.

the pero clinic