I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I am at the end of my rope. He has never been a good eater. DH and I argue over methods. He says let him be, I want to pry those little lips open.

I feel like for the last 2 months my days have revolved around trying to get food into his mouth.

This week we started table foods. He was eating everything except watermelon. I made the mistake of adding cheerios now he will only open his mouth if I am giving him a cheerio.

I am just curious what the dr will say. Force feed? let him be? I was looking so forward to feeding him food so Leo could help out. Instead it's more work then bfing.

just a vent.

also, I know NOTHING about daycare. I am ignorant in the entire subject. If he was going to a daycare how would they deal with this? Just curious...this kid seems high maintance and I wonder if it is because I am a slave to him. Only naps on me...wants to live on cheerios.

tia!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I think your ped will tell you to go at his pace. If all he wants is cheerios then so be it.

In day care, he may eat differently than at home. Its weird how these kids almost behave better when they arent with us......

Good luck and hang in there

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

thanks! I would love to go at his pace and have him live on Cheerios...I think this is leading to him being agressive. I don't want to force anything on him, but i think i need to be told its okay if he doesn't eat anything other then cheerios.

I hate being mean to him with the food, I try and convince myself that its important that he eats and I can't be his friend all the time. But I would love to just offer it, he says no and that's that.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

In my opinion the best thing you can do with eating is to be laid back about it. They will go through stages. Sometimes they will be teething and wont want to eat. Some days they are starving and they will eat everything they see.

I think every kid had gone through the days where they only eat cheerios or goldfish.

I think force feeding him - or showing stress with eating is only going to make him more stressed. I know you want to do what is best for him, but you can't force him (we have aaaall tried at one point!!).

Try to relax a little about it - it will be ok.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

is it weird though that he doesn't eat ever? There are 4 times were he opened his mouth to food...all the rest are me tricking him by giving him a water cup, taking it out of his mouth then sticking spoon in.

In 3 months of feeding...only 4 feedings have been him opening his mouth.

Many times I open a jar of food, stick the spoon in, he doesn't want it so jar goes in fridge. I throw out a full jar of food everyday. I make cereal every morning then throw it out. If he hasn't eaten in 2-3 days, that's when I trick him with the cup.

The kid will nurse 24/7 though if I let him.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

Oh boy I am having the same struggle with my son I could have written the same thing. He will only eat some cereal mixed with fruit but never ever any veggie and/or lunch/dinner jar food. All he wants is the boob. I too get so stressed and feel like he needs to eat. Eating is such an ordeal and I dread it. Ugh its so frustrating.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

No - I don't think it is weird. My DD never ate cereal or a jar of baby food EVER...not one!!!

She went straight to finger foods and starting eating solids at a later age than other kids. I never really stressed too much. I let her have her formula (Which is really where they get their nutrients) and figured when she was ready she would let me know.

Some kids just don't like jarred food - I mean can you blame them?? that stuff is gross!!!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

GIanna went through the same stage. Our PeD told us not to worry, just to keep offering and keep mealtimes positive.

Just remember til 1 years old, solids are just for practice, Formula/BM should still be baby's main nutrition and not to worry

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I totally second being laid back about it. I've never stressed about what she eats, even when she's on a hunger strike and seems to eat nothing, and I honestly feel that's part of the reason why she's such a good eater. Just keep offering him things. It can take up to 12 times or something like that for some babies to try or like something. He's doing just fine. I think cheerios are a big accomplishment! Those suckers can be hard to chew!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

thanks guys! I feel much better. I hate forcing him...I hate the negativity. I just took him to the pool so he forgets that I was ramming a spoon into his mouth.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I could have written this myself Janice. Maddie has been on the all cheerio date for awhile now. I finally relaxed and stopped stressing. I think I get a good meal in her about 3x/week tops.

ETA: One of my tricks is to put some cheerios on the highchair and when she opens her mouth to put it in her mouth I sneak a spoonful of baby food in. Doesn't work everytime but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Message edited 7/19/2007 8:28:15 PM.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

Also, when in doubt, stick some food on the spoon and stick a cheerio to it. When Ava won't eat her chicken, I put it on the fork, then put a piece of broccoli over it and she forgets that she didn't want the chicken and eats it.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I dont have any advice, DD LOVES baby food but I wanted to give you and hope it gets better.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I agree not to force the issue. he is getting all of his nutrients with the BM right now, so you don't have to worry about him being malnurished, LOL.

I would just keep giving it. If he takes it, cool. If not, then let it rest and try tomorrow.

Did you try leaving things on his tray? Like when you give cheese, put it on the tray. He will most likely play with it. Then feed him a little at a time. if he doesn't open for a piece, then just leave it on his tray and give him a toy. He may go back minutes later and take it.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

he is allergic to milk and soy products. I let him play with peas and sweet potatos. I cut up avocados and he smashes that around. I let him have the spoon.

I am going to take it easy.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

DD and josh are the same age and I go through this all the time with her. There are times when she presses her lips together and won't eat. I don't stress to much about it - I figure she'll eat when she's hungry. That's pretty much my approach to her eating and she seems to be doing fine.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

Whoa there Nelly...don't worry about it! Noah ate almost NOTHING until he went to nursery. I would make the most wonderful concotions and all he would eat was (maybe) a few spoonfuls of pasta stars, or pasta carbonara. Even to this day, he doesn't eat much unless its scrambled eggs, filled pasta or baked beans (he loves to eat those little suckers one at a time) As long as the kid isn't overly skinny..don't worry about it! Some kids just aren't big eaters!!!

The other night I made Noah a delish meal of rice, beans and chicken and he wound up eating a banana. And I have managed to keep him alive for 18 months!!!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

I am thinking the laid back route is the way to go. However I do think their are a couple of things that may help. One, try to make yourself scarce while someone else feeds him. If he knows you are not an option, he may feel differently. Two, make sure he is fed before nursing when you know its his hungriest time of day. Maybe at least on your hubby's days off he can try to feed him first thing in am.

If that doesn't work I would try to relax anyway and offer him food everyday as you are already doing. eventually he will come around. Noone lives on breast milk forever.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

thanks!

I can't believe I have to say this, but he has a banana allergy too I am allergic to everything so I just passed it onto him. Bananas make him spit up all day and leave him with a rash.

I thought he was doing this just to me, being a wise guy, DH has no luck. My mother tried too, no luck.

I am going to enjoy my day with cheerios. Atleast I won't have the usual mess to clean up on the walls and floor.

thanks!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

as long as he is nursing, he will be 100% fine. You may be doing this already, but try nursing him a little first and then give him some food, this way he is still hungry but not so starving that he doesnt have the patience.

Also are you using breastmilk to make the cereal? This way its a familiar taste to him?

Again, it sounds like you have tried eveything so I bet these suggestions arent new

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

Posted by Janice

thanks!

I can't believe I have to say this, but he has a banana allergy too I am allergic to everything so I just passed it onto him. Bananas make him spit up all day and leave him with a rash.

I thought he was doing this just to me, being a wise guy, DH has no luck. My mother tried too, no luck.

I am going to enjoy my day with cheerios. Atleast I won't have the usual mess to clean up on the walls and floor.

thanks!

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

pauline thanks for all suggestions

I talked to dr about allergies and testing, he said to wait till he is one.

I know he has a cat allergy, that's why I brought it up to dr.

Re: I am calling the dr tomorrow...I have had it

DD 16 months and only grazes here and there... We never did jarred food, I made all fer food... She still isn't much interested in solids, just small amounts of whatever I am eating. But she will nurse all day and night...