10 month old not nursing much/not wanting solids

[71newmom]

My 10 month old is EBF. I introduced solids around 5 1/2 months. He seemed ok with a few things...applesauce, squash, cereal. It was going all right for a few months, sort of. He never really wanted more than an ounce or 2 of food. Now lately, he has been refusing all solids. He won't open his mouth at all. This goes for finger foods as well as the purees. If I do get him to open up, it's only one time and that's it. Usually when he tries something, he makes a face and then his whole body kind of shudders. Sometimes he gags (but not choke). I've tried pasta, egg yolk, yogurt, cubed and mashed veggies, fruits/veggies in the soft mesh feeders, chicken put through a food mill, I could go on and on. I've also tried to make him fruit smoothies with breastmilk, really thin so he can take them thru his sippy cup. He wants nothing. Worse is that he isn't wanting to nurse more than 4x a day. I highly doubt he is getting enough. His weight at 6months was in the 85th%, and at 9 months it was down to the 45%. He only gained just over a pound in that 3 months. Does anyone have any ideas? I eat a great diet, lactogenic foods, plenty of water, fenugreek, I offer the breast often, his latch is good. I'm just so worried that he isn't getting enough nutrition and enough calories. He never would take a bottle, and is just getting the hang of a sippy cup, although he doesn't get much from it at this point. I'd love to hear from some other mom's out there. Any advice would be appreciated!!

[momofthree771]

With my ds1 he had a lot of allergies. Because of that I basically bf exclusively for 10 months. I know that sometimes they bounce around on the growth charts. My ped doesn't really worry unless it keeps happening. She says they are "finding their curve". He might just not like food...my babies always shuddered when they thought the food was gross. I would wait a few weeks and then reintroduce something like rice cereal mixed with breast milk (really watered down in case he doesn't like the texture). Don't you wish they came with some sort of instructions...would be helpful.

[alegna]

Stop trying to force the solids. Just offer finger foods a couple of times a day. If he doesn't eat- fine.

Encourage more nursing. Offer at least once an hour during the day. Give no other sucking (bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers)

Cosleep and encourage nursing at night.

good luck!

-Angela

[MilkTrance]

Cosleeping and night nursing will help a lot.

That said, some babies gain slower after about 6 months. Mine did, and he nursed like crazy. He's gained about a pound and a half in two months.

He's very healthy and meeting (well, exceeding) all milestones, so I'm not worried.

Is your baby healthy in every other aspect?

[MaryJaneLouise]

I would guess he is teething pretty badly. One of my LOs was just an awful pill at 10 months. If you are open to it, you might try Tylenol and/or ibuprofen to help.

I agree that encouraging nursing is the key. It almost sounds like a partial nursing strike.

Here's some info on refusing to nurse & nursing strikes in general:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...st.html#strike

This sounds crazy, but I took my baby into the bath with me and just snuggled a bit in the warm bath, and he liked that, and he would nurse then. And also when he was sleepy. It really sounds like a phase and/or teething.

[JANmom13]

My son does the shuddering thing, too! My daughters always sucked up their food, so this was new to me!

He is still new at solids, but sometimes randomly will still do this. He tends to react this way to sweet things like peaches but not to green beans and peas.

But sounds like yours is refusing everything. If you sit him on your lap during meals, does he try to grab and take your food? Maybe he realizes you are feeding him baby food and wants what you all are eating instead?

Or, since he's about 10 months, maybe he's in that stage where he is FAR more interested in seeing what he can do, and would rather be on the floor exploring instead of eating, which he probably sees as not as interesting! I think when they get to exploring they slow down on eating for a little bit. I'm sure he will swing back the other way soon. If he is starting to crawl or walk that will also mean he is burning more calories moving around more, when otherwise a strike may not have resulted in quite as much of a drop on the curve.

I really think that in most cases a child will not starve to death (assuming a healthy child). This was what I always followed as a rule when my 2 oldest got picky. Sometimes they would just skip a meal and I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure when he feels hungry again, or starts another growth spurt, he will stop refusing. Just hang in there!