14 month reluctant to eat

[Kata89]

My 14 month olds stopped eating as much as she used to. What I mean is she used to eat everything put in front of her within reason, she wouldn’t over do it but would eat sufficient amounts. She is now eating the odd mouthful at each meal and sometimes not eating anything. She’s breastfed still and relies heavily on her milk. I work three days a week and I often have it reported that she’s not eaten much during the day. She will happily eat peas most of the time and will pick them out and leave most of the other food on her plate.

My MiL keeps suggesting it’s down to her teething, she’s only got 2 atm, whilst I’m not dismissive of this suggestion I don’t know if it’s the case. She’s chewing on things a lot but it’s nothing new.

I’m concerned that it’s down to something upsetting her stomach. I was advised to avoid dairy as she may have an allergy. I saw the dietician when she was about 6/7 months old who gave me the introduction of dairy ladder which we’ve followed. She didn’t react to cooked in dairy but when we tried milk she wasn’t right and her poos went back to the pre-solid colour, so we back tracked. I’m wondering if this could have been part of the problem. I have also found that a large-ish amount of lax to free cheese also caused the same reaction. So we got vegan cheese for her which she’s reluctant to eat, as if she’s associating it with having a poorly tummy. I could be overthinking this though

This has gone on for far longer than I anticipated and I’m clearly worried but as she’s healthy I’m not too worried. I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or has any suggestions.

[Hidden]

My LG has always been a bit of a fussy eater but recently she had become awful and barely touching her food. Turns out she was brewing a couple of illnesses. First she had a bad viral illness and doctor mentioned her throat was red and then she went on to get a sickness bug. Both illnesses took a while to come out but think that explained why she didn’t eat xx

[Kata89 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I’ll keep an eye out for any illnesses. She’s been like this for over a month now. Started with breakfast which I bought up with the health visitor, but it’s getting worse. I’ll try and see one soon and see what they say.

[Hidden in reply to Kata89]

Aw they are such a worry sometimes. I got worried when she wouldn’t eat breakfast as that’s her favourite meal of the day. It’s always hard as you never know if it’s a phase, illness or something else x

[Kata89 in reply to Hidden]

I’d be less worried if it was just breakfast. She actually ate hers today, over the course of about an hour. But didn’t have anything much for lunch just a few veggie straws and a bit of cake (mostly the icing) and then virtually nothing for dinner. She’s been like this on off for a while. I offered her plain rice from my dinner as well after she didn’t eat her dinner (sweet potato, peas and lentils in a tomato sauce) she didn’t eat that either. Unfortunately we often eat too late for her to eat with us all of the time (due to work commitments) so she has to eat separately.

[Lovefood1984]

Have you tried removing dairy entirely again or is she still having bits here and there from lower down the ladder? Perhaps her tummy is a little sore and she’s not eating due to this 🤷‍♀️ Has she had any new food recently? I only ask as my LG has multiple food allergies (we’re only 11 months though) I agree on them going off food when illness is brewing but I wouldn’t expect a month from my experience. Perhaps she is associating some foods with pain and being picky due to it......I’m not sure what you do with sorting food aversions though, might be worth a read around. I’m dreading starting the milk ladder as I just don’t want to put her through it 😢 (and at some point soya, egg, coconut and peanut 🙄) All the best in working out what it is and getting it sorted x

[Kata89 in reply to Lovefood1984]

She’s been eating foods with dairy in for a while. However we don’t use dairy at all when cooking so it’s just in the odd biscotti and bits that she’s getting from other places. I think you might be right and I have to check what she’s getting when I’m at work. At my parents today and someone gave her a cheese sandwich to eat, no one admitted to it but there was no way she put it on her own tray, we were with extended family who don’t know the problems). She didn’t eat it fortunately. However. I’m not sure my siblings actually recognise the problem as she’s fine during the day but unsettled at night/evening and her poos aren’t normal, also they don’t tend to be with her a lot.

I’m going to try and get her to stop relying on my milk so much but have to be really strict about what she’s given when I’m not around.

I’d say go slow and try the things that seem the lowest risk first. Ie if you think eggs going to be a huge risk maybe start with something containing dairy bit not egg.

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Kata89]

I know what you mean about people not recognising the problem, even my husband struggled at times as fussy evening behaviour is seen as ‘normal’ for some babies but I knew. My daughters naps go to shot during the day as well as her being grumpier but you are right, the evening and unsettled nights along with bad nappies just complete the picture.

I think I will be trying lower risk things first, eggs were our worst reaction so something to be tackled last 😊

If you are struggling for safe food ideas then there is a CMPA group on Facebook and people post loads of stuff on there that is accidentally milk or milk and soya free etc. If you still have problems then I’d consider cutting soya too, the proteins are really similar and a lot can’t tolerate them ☹️

[Kata89 in reply to Lovefood1984]

Initially I cut soya out too but that was really hard. I’m going to stick with the dairy for now. We don’t have much just soya based, drink oat milk etc. Hopefully will get to the bottom of it soon

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

I would say my little one goes through phases like this all the time. Some months loves food some barely touches it. She is 15 months now. The nursery always just say, she isn't going through a growth spurt at the minute, so doesn't need as much. It does seem to line up as well. Eat loads and then out grow all her clothes!

[Kata89 in reply to Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

I’ll keep an eye out for a growth spurt. She’s diddy (following the 9th percentile line) and still wearing 6-9 month clothes. Had her weight a month ago, she was fractionally under 18lb. She’s not really had any growth spurts really. So it may be the cause I don’t know :S