She can't eat anything!

[Heavenly]

Please don't move this, I want as many responses as possible! I am really concerned because my almost 11 month old daughter does not eat any solids. I wouldn't be concerned if it was just that she isn't interested. But the problem is if any bit of food whatsoever goes in her mouth she vomits all over. Today at my playgroup she was staring at my plum so I picked a very miniscule piece off and put it in her mouth. She immediately gagged and vomited everywhere (all over some woman's shoes!). I am started to get worried that she has sensory issues or that something is wrong with her. I really don't like going to doctors (we don't vax or do well baby visits so they don't like or respect us too much). Do you think this is normal or something I should get checked out? Should I just leave her be and trust that she'll let me know when she's ready for solids?

[joesmom]

hmm... i am not an expert, but at 11 mos i would say maybe wait a few months before taking her to the dr. seems like joe was like that until around age two... not to the extent that you describe, but... maybe other moms will have better advice or suggestions of foods to try.

OT, did you change your user name? i remember your kids' names but i thought you had a different name & i have racked my brain trying to remember it!

good luck!

[Piglet68]

While my DD is still not a huge eater at 14 months, she never did what you describe. I would be a bit worried, I think. Maybe you could do an internet search, or visit a site like WebMD for an initial "diagnosis" (suggestions of what it might be) before you go to a live MD.

[LoveBeads]

Can she eat things that are pureed? Or yogurt?

[eilonwy]

My older niece did this for a while. She has *severe* GERD (gastro-esophogeal reflux disease), and as an infant would vomit all of her feedings (breastmilk and formula). When she got older, she did the same thing with solids. She's 6 now and eats pretty well, but still has a sensitive stomach and little appetite. It's very painful for her to eat too much, so she tends to stop short even of what she's able to eat. .

I would definately get her checked out if I was you, because she seems to be expressing an interest in solid food, but she's unable to tolerate it. Is she gaining weight normally? Is she growing? She may not "need" solids, but if she wants them and can't handle even the slightest bit, I would have that looked into. My ds is the same age as your dd (his birthday is the 8th ), and while he prefers to nurse, he is able to tolerate solid food and is growing well, so I'm not too worried (most of the time!). JMO, Good luck!

[Kundalini-Mama]

i'm trying to remember back a couple of months.

we started Aidan on solids around 8 months, he was somewhat interested in eating, but then he threw up. we waited another couple of months and started again. some things still made him throw up, while others didn't. now he doesn't throw up at all (19 months).

ftr, he has a lot of allergies. i really think it was his body trying to protect himself. i don't know if that is what is going on w/your dd, but i think that was what was going on w/him.

and if it is allergies, don't expect a dr to take you seriously :

ooh, i just remembered. i gave him some carrots at 8 months and he threw that up wicked. it turns out he is allergic to carrots.

hmmmmm

edited to add: is she nursing fine?? is she getting plenty of nutrition otherwise??

[Heavenly]

joesmom - No I haven't changed my user name. Maybe you recognize me from a different board! I am Shawna P or Rain at various boards.

Piglet - How do I find WebMD?

Lovebeads - She gags but doesn't vomit on pureed foods. But she won't eat them. She absolutely refuses to open her mouth, you'd have to force her mouth open which I am not willing to do. She just turns her head and clamps her lips shut. When I do try and force the issue (a couple of times because everyone is pressuring me) I will get the purreed in, she will gag and sometimes vomit but not every time. With anything solid she will vomit every time.

eilonwy - She has never done this with breastmilk though. I have GERD so it could be a possibility but it really seems more like a really really strong gag reflex or oral aversion. I just don't know where she would have gotten an oral aversion from. I don't do well baby visits so I am not 100% sure about her weight but she seems to be developing fine. She weighs about 22 lbs. But there is concern because she weighed 20 lbs. at 6 months and has only gained 2 lbs. in 4.5 months. She is developing completely normal, crawling, pulling up, cruising, dancing, clapping, waving, starting to talk.

AmyD - so your son vomitted solids too? I don't know if she could have allergies, how would I know? She is nursing fine so she's at least getting nutrition that way. I had a breast reduction so I supplement some with formula in a lact-aid (at the breast supplementer). I use iron fortified so her iron should be fine.

I just don't know what to do. I am scared if I take her to the doctor they will get mad about me not vaxxing and use this issue as a reason to call in child services or something. Like try and say that I WON'T feed her or something. I am just terrified of doctors and their control if they want to assert it. But I am worried about her too. She seems fine but I don't know. She loves to nurse and would nurse all the time if I let her (I do nurse on demand most of the time but sometimes the demand is every 10 minutes so I will try and hold her off). She doesn't seem to really be interested in solids at all, although lately she seems to be watching us with interest while we eat. What to do?

[Piglet68]

www.webmd.com

I totally understand your not wanting to deal with a doctor and them harrassing you about all your parenting choices when you just want help with your DD.

While it may be something a doctor should look at, it sounds like your child is happy and healthy, developing normally. Seems others here have seen their children grow out of that phase, and 11 months isn't really all that abnormal as far as eating goes (mine started late, too). The important thing is she's nursing and getting compleat nutrition that way.

I agree forcing the issue is the wrong way to go. I guess I would probably hang in there a bit longer and see if she grows out of it.

Oh, maybe you could try a naturopath or homeopathic doctor who wouldn't be so quick to judge you?

[Kundalini-Mama]

Originally posted by Heavenly
AmyD - so your son vomitted solids too? I don't know if she could have allergies, how would I know? She is nursing fine so she's at least getting nutrition that way. I had a breast reduction so I supplement some with formula in a lact-aid (at the breast supplementer). I use iron fortified so her iron should be fine.

Heavenly,

*i* really wouldn't worry about it the more you describe it. she is eating breastmilk and formula, has no GERD issues, it sounds just like Aidan. her body is probably trying to protect itself.

in terms of allergies, it was a hunch. i have a lot of allergies and knew that it could be passed to my little ones. he couldn't nap and his sleeping at night was horrific (waking every 40 min, needing a full feed all night long) a friend of mine thought it was dairy, so i gave that up in july 02. it improved somewhat. i gave up eggs about 4 months ago, and he is doing MUCH better. i then took him to get allergy testing (the RAST test, just blood) and it showed intolerances to carrots, corn and peanuts (damn) as well. he has never had peanuts so i'm sure it is so mild due to that. he is also allergic to pine nuts and cayenne pepper (not on the test, but through eating).

also, w/Aidan, his allergies manifest themselves in his gut, so it was really difficult to identify them. i think he hurts. probably some cramping and such, but no diarrhea or vomiting (although he has never had dairy or peanuts, so who knows). he also gets an allergy rash around his anus, has dark circles under his eyes (he is not anemic), gets dry patches of skin (eczema) on his back and face and gets a red rash on his face after he eats an offender, like corn in any form.

we just cut the corn, carrots and peanuts out of our (me and his) diet. he has been doing much better. i still think there is something else, allergy wise, but i can't identify it yet. unfortunately the more his body is exposed to an allergen the worse his reaction will be. so unfortunately, once it gets worse, we'll be able to figure it out more precisely.

hth
amy

p.s. i also 2nd piglet's idea of taking your child to a naturopath. you also might want to try a chiropractor.

[mingber]

Heavenly - I am sympathetic to you. I would also recommend a homeopathic doctor - they are so much more understanding.
Also, it could be an oral aversion - which I have heard can just manifest themselves with no reasoning.

You could also go to www.askdrsears.com

Good luck.
Marcie