AboutMary Pat, R.N. Expertise I am happy to answer general non-diagnostic questions on infant & child care, infant & toddler feedings, discipline, illnesses, and how to access resources for the child with special needs.
Experience I am a pediatric nurse, an R.N. with 40 years experience first as manager of a community hospital pediatric department & 11 years working in a private pediatric practice. I have managed more than 100,000 phone calls from parents in private practice.
Question QUESTION: Hi, I have been blessed with a boy who is now 19mths of age. He is ok with respect to his weight gain and is active. However he doesnt eat anything. It is becoming harder and harder to feed him daily, This is not something which he has developed recently but he has not been in favour of food since 6mths of age. He has always refused food, whether baby cereals or solid food. I have to literally force him to eat. I still feed him since he has not learnt to eat on his own. He starts playing with food. I even tried to increase the gap between his meals to 8-9 hrs but still he doesnt eat. I have make him lie down in 30-40 degrees posture and feed him doing all sort of stuff. I am really worried as to till what age this would continue. He is not fond of anything, neither cookies, chips, chocolates nothing. He simply doesnt like to eat food or see food. Please advice and help.
ANSWER: Dear Aruna:
I am curious why, if your child does not eat food, his weight is good. How much milk does he take in a day?
Have you discussed these issues with his doctor?
Mary Pat
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks Mary for a quick response. My son takes 160 ml of milk in the morning and in the evening. Earlier he used to drink abt 200 ml of milk which has also come down. He weight is not good but ok. It is not an alarming issue as of now. I had consulted my doctor who said that there is no problem and he wld eat when he feels hungry. It is difficult to feed babies. But somehow I am not able to cope with this tension. I see other kids eating stuff and I really wish my son also eats. Please help Mary, I am really very worried.
Answer Dear Aruna:
Your son is getting a sufficient amount of milk right now. He could have a food texture aversion which is something that we are seeing in the states as becoming more common. Often it begins when a child is delayed in being offered foods with textures and sometimes it is purely psychological.
He should be evaluated by a feeding therapist at a feeding therapy clinic. We have them in the states at children's hospitals. An occupational therapist and speech therapist can evaluate your son also. The speech therapists are skilled in swallowing issues as well.
I would not offer him sweets and treats at all. Continue to offer him what you prepare for the family for meals and let him play with his food if he wishes. Perhaps he will imitate you and put some in his mouth and it will be a start. Be certain he is fed with the rest of the family and no milk or juice before a meal.
