When to worry? When to be concerned?

[kindred_spirit]

My ds is 17 months.....Nurses a whole lot

The thing is he refuseses to take a sippy cup & harldly eats.
For example he only eat a piece of a bannana in the last three days.

He is not a big eater & Nurses a ton.
I know he is gaining weight, etc.......but my dh is really concerned that he doesn't eat or drink out of a cup.

Thoughts?

[Mama2ABCD]

don't worry. your little guy is fine!

and if's he is cutting second year molars (a good reason not to eat) be glad he's getting breastmilk (my boys did the same). i know enough non breastfed toddlers that don't get anything in their belly's when cutting teeth. they seem miserable. my boys did great (full belly's, comfort, and sleep)

tell your dh not to worry. especially since there are wet diapers....

[kindred_spirit]

I guess my concern is this is an ongoing thing.

He has never taken a sippy cup. I have tried a lot & want drink from one.

Thanks for the encouragement & he could be cutting teeth again.

[weebitty2]

my dd HATES sippies.

we found this out one night when we gave her a regular cup in the bathtub .. she'll drink out of them, or out of a lightweight coffee mug, but won't touch any drink in a sippie. It's messy, so she normally just gets water, but it works.

She just started cutting her 2year molars and pretty much went on a solid food strike until the first one finally came through - literally all she'd eat was maybe a slice of cheese a day. Now she's back to her little piglet self.

[kindred_spirit]

How much do you think they should be eating on a regular basis at this age?

Thanks & I have tried the cup.....can't tell .how much he drinks or if he just pours it out

[callmemama]

I think children know what they need. I've heard of little ones refusing solids well into toddlerhood...

[Mama2ABCD]

I think children know what they need.

i agree!

[Peppamint]

Maybe try other kids of cups... regular cup or straw sippy cup?

My 21mo ds occassionally drinks ice water from a straw cup, otherwise he nurses. He eats, but not as much as my dd ate at 12mo! :LOL They're all so different.

Just make eating fun... try new things, diced and sliced... with healthy dip. My ds eats best if he's sitting in mine or dh's lap while we eat.

Thankfully, since he's breastfeeding he's getting vitamins, minerals, fat, antibodies etc!

[EllasMummy]

I could have written your post!

My dd is 16 months and hardly eats anything and prefers to water the carpet with her sippy cup rather than drink any water.

She nurses A LOT! More than she did as a newborn!

Some days I worry and her grandparents definately worry but I just look at her and remind myself that she is growing taller and heavier, she is very healthy and very happy. I am trying hard to trust her to eat/drink as she needs to. I just make sure I offer her water and good, nutritious foods to try and then its up to her.

No other ideas for you, just wanted you to know you are not alone!

[kindred_spirit]

Thanks Everyone

You all have been encouraging.
And I am just thinking when my first was this age we where dealing with food allergies.
So maybe this guy has the same thing & just knows what is good for him.

[Ruthla]

Your job is to OFFER your child a variety of healthy foods, including breastmilk. Your child's job is to actually eat. As long as you're offering, trust that your child is taking what he needs- of course, it wouldn't hurt to offer things differently to try to attract his interest, but you don't need to worry.

[eilonwy]

I took my daughter to see her pediatric gastroenterologist recently, and mentioned to him that she seems to actually digest her food; I found it amazing, because my son didn't until he was about 18 months old, and not fully until very recently (like 24 months). He told me something interesting: the pancreatic enzymes needed for proper digestion aren't produced in enough quantity until, on average, 12 months. Some kids will be able to digest their food adequately at seven months (my daughter) and some won't be able to digest their food adequately until they're more like 20 months old (my son).

Your little guy wants breastmilk because he can digest it easily and well; when his body is ready to digest more foods, he'll ask for them. I'm convinced that if I hadn't lost my milk, my son would still have been getting 80-90% of his calories from breastmilk at 18 months.

[spirit4ever]

My little guy (2 3/4) only started to eat a bit more solids when I got pregnant and my milk dried up, that was at age 2, only nursed until then. I just had his brother and he is back to only nursing, for the most part. I'm not worried, bm is still so good for him!!! Today was the 1st day he actually ate lunch in ten days...so don't worry, sounds like your little one just knows what is best!!