14 month old won't eat

Trisha - posted on 02/17/2010

My little guy is 15 months and has been doing the same thing for the past few months. I heard that it's normal. They go through growth spurts and eat a ton and then they will eat like a mouse. I try not to worry too much about it, because I hear it's pretty common. My baby doesn't like to drink out of a bottle when he's teething, because the bottle presses against his gums. I think they don't like to eat much when they are teething as well. They have straw, spillproof, cups that you can buy at Wallmart or I've even seen them at regular grocery stores that my baby LOVES and he'll drink fine out of those when he's teething.

Julie - posted on 02/17/2010

So many great tips and reminders to remain calm about these changing habits of our little ones! Provided that you're not seeing drastic weight loss and/or changes in their usual behaviours, you can usually chalk this kind of thing up to a phase and an assertion of their new-found independence. A friend recently collected a bunch of tips from fellow Moms to help get past this kind of issue. So here are a few additional ideas to make foods seem appealing to little, picky eaters: try a new format - sometimes simply offering a food in a new way will do the trick (e.g., sliced, cubed, shredded, pureed, mashed, finely grated, whole when safe, etc); provide a toddler-safe utensil - often even just being able to hold a spoon motivates my daughter to open wide:); hide foods in other foods which may be more desirable (e.g., disguise veggies in tomato sauce or with melted cheese!); finger foods all the way!; make it fun (e.g., chomp like a bunny); change up who feeds the unappreciative little diner (sometimes Dad or an older sibling has more luck than Mom); Cheerios always go down! Above all, as stated above many times, try not to get too anxious. Just roll with it, and remember that they won't starve themselves. Have fun, let things get messy, and bon appetite!

Elena - posted on 02/17/2010

I know playing with food is an important developmental milestone, but sometimes that's all my daughter does and none of the food makes it into her mouth.. when i decided that she's made enough mess and let her out of the high chair she'll run around biting on her fist (sometimes so hard it's bruised), which i take as a sign of hunger. is it?

Bobi - posted on 02/17/2010

My daughter who is 15 months has never been an eater either. In fact, the only thing we could get her to eat last night was 4 club crackers. This is why I was afraid to take her bottle away because she needs something so we put vitamins in her milk at night to ease my mind.

Sorcha - posted on 02/16/2010

my daughter just doesnt eat at all never has she has been put on high calorie milk to compensate for the time being but i was told not to worry to much and try to relax and dont let her see shes upsetting me as this will only make her more stubborn,its not worked with mine but shes under hospital care for gastro problems now but it might help!
good luck

Hillary - posted on 02/16/2010

My daughter is doing the same thing. She used to eat all day long, a banana for breakfast, goldfish to snack on, a healthy lunch and dinner, and yogurt before bed, and now we're lucky if we can even get her to open her mouth during dinner. Also, at bedtime she'll drink a couple ounces of her milk, and then take her paci, instead of gulping down the whole cup like she used to. Its just the age, I think. After their first birthday, their rate of growth slows down, and I think they're so focused on getting into things and running around that eating just isn't a priority. We try not to stress about it too much, she'll eat when she's hungry, and we can't force food into her mouth. Bella has also started playing with her food more in her highchair instead of eating it, which I've heard is important for their development. Just let her be independent, and always have a healthy snack on hand when she decides that she IS hungry. At this age, babies are beginning to listen to their own bodies, and you have to respect that independence. If you're having trouble with dinner, make sure that she eats a good, healthy breakfast the next morning. Since she is putting so little food in her system you need to make sure that each snack or meal that she does eat is healthy and nutritious. Try giving her things that she can eat on her own. Something I like to do is cut up a banana and some grapes (cut the grapes into fours) and put them in a little bowl where she is playing, that way she can decide if and when she wants to eat. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Ingalee - posted on 02/15/2010

I just want to say that I'm very glad that I joined this circle. I read the questions and the replies and it makes me feel better to know that we all have alot of the same questions and theres alot of answers here. I don't feel quite so panicy or alone when my son is doing something I worry about. So thanks everyone for just being here.

Rachel - posted on 02/15/2010

Have you checked to see if she has any new teeth coming in? My girls when they are teething act like picky eaters and sometimes refuse to eat or drink their milk. Sometimes their gums are just too sensitive when teething that they don't want anything to touch them! Good Luck!

Genevieve - posted on 02/15/2010

I wouldn't worry, they got through phases. As long as she is still in the healthy weight range. My son is 15 months & 9.3kg, but he has never been a big eater and stopped putting on heaps of weight once we introduced solids.
Apparently feeding them with other kids seems to help them eat more. Also lot of finger foods and self feeding are supposed to be good, a friend of mine took her son to a specialist since he wasn't eating much and she made sure he fed himself more often.

Angela - posted on 02/14/2010

Thought it was just me! My little girl is now 15 months & has spent the last week refusing to eat. Has her bottles 2x per day & not alot mores. Will sit down & eat fruit & some bread - but if we put her in her highchair for breakfast or dinner - she just won't eat.
I guess we just have to be patient & wait it out. Growth spurts & teething!!!

Maggie - posted on 01/18/2010

my 14 mnth baby doesn't like solid food, period! i have tried all i can, but she just wants her bottle. here and there she will take some meat, but cereal, oats, pap, even bananas are all yuk for her. please help!

Clara - posted on 01/18/2010

Eggs with Aromat is a winner for us !! But she had the Redo Gastro Virus and didnt eat for 8 days, but is 100% now, doc also said that it doesnt mean that they are hungry because you are ??

Monica - posted on 01/17/2010

I had the same problem with my daughter (now 20). I took a raw egg, mixed with a little water and strained through a tea sif and added it to her milk bottle at night with a little nesquik (for taste) when I felt she needed a little extra. Also, try giving her stuff like marie biscuits, beacon kips or even baked chips like flings, a piece of cheese, a piece of vienna sausage or something small that she can hold in her hand. This is all stages that children go through. They have growth sprouts and then nothing - it's on and off. As long as she drinks some fluids, she'll be fine., Good luck!

Jayme - posted on 01/16/2010

Thanks everyone, it does seem to be better today. I think maybe it was just her teeth bothering her. But good to know shes not the only baby who does this

Vicki - posted on 01/15/2010

Is she still having bowel movements? Drinking water? Have you checked her temp?



It is common for babies this age to start getting fussy with foods. If she seems well, it may just be a phase, and I would just keep offering her foods. My 14 month old has days, sometimes a few days in a row where he will ONLY eat finger food. So it's usually fish fingers, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, toast, banana or saltanas. Sometimes it's a bit of all of those which I know is a gross mix. No matter what though he will ALWAYS eat his yoghurt, so I know he is just being fussy.

If you're not sure if she is unwell or not, a trip to the doctor might be an idea, even if it's just to put your mind at ease:-)

Briony - posted on 01/15/2010

Eating was one of the biggest problem I encountered with my son, he'd eat like a horse for a few weeks and then...Nothing. I took him to a dietician as he was classified underweight but she wasn't concerned at all. Her advice to me when he wouldn't eat anything was to offer him food regularly, particularly high energy foods and then relax (hard task when your baby won't eat), children will not starve themselves, they will eat when they're hungry.