14 month old won't eat

Question

I am at the end of my rope. I dread mealtimes and when I wake up in the morning I groan at the thought that I have to feed my son again today. This sounds so horrible for me to say, I know, but this kid HATES EATING. Honestly if it were up to him he would just starve to death. He is so far behind on solids. We are still doing purees but he doesn't chew so I can't feed him anything else. And people say he can feed himself, he can't. He only does purees and won't let anything else in his mouth. This might be because he doesn't have teeth yet. For the longest time he would only eat oatmeal and fruit. I worked SO HARD diluting meats and veggies (pureed) with whole milk yogurt to get him to like it and decreasing the amoung of yogurt at every meal to get him used to eating those foods. Finally he has been off yogurt and doing well with full strength food for about a month.

But, now he is regressing and going back to fruit and oatmeal again. AHHHHH!!! Because he doesn't chew, sometimes he holds the food in his mouth for so long that he forgets about it, chokes, THROWS EVERYTHING UP, and then I have to take him out of his puke-y clothes, bathe him, wipe down the whole highchair, put lotion on, dress him, and start this hellish process all over again because his stomach is empty and he still needs to eat.

He threw up again tonight. It is better but I still cannot count the number of times this has happened.

I am at the end of my rope and am ready to just let him drink formula (they both drink the Enfamil Next Step). He hates eating. I hate feeding him. So why the heck do I even try.

I give up.

What do I do. Is there something I can give him to just let him drink bottles? Like protein powder and juice plus capsules? Maybe the kid just needs a break from eating. I don't know what to do. *sigh*

Answer 1

I had to learn that there is a difference between gagging and choking....gagging is normal because they have to figure out how to hold the food in their mouths long enough to mash it without swallowing it. They stop gagging after awhile and if you can contain your look of horror while its going on your child won't associate the table food with negative feelings. Of course its important to introduce tougher textures slowly and don't give him anything too hard or large until you know they can handle it too. My doc says look at what they eat in a week, not a day. It should balance out. Could he be teething? Maybe his mouth just hurts. You should ask his doctor, because its possible that his teeth are impacted(happened to my nephew at 16 months(no teeth) Good Luck!!!  

Answer 2

Try the kids pediasure drinks so he will have the  nutrition he needs and my mother in law always tells me if they are hungry they will eat, my nephew is almost 3 and does not like to eat he is to busy all the time.

Answer 3

kids go through several phases, sometimes with a distaste for every day foods. Until he gets past this one find something he likes that is fairly nutritious and feed him that often throughout the day, such as cheerios or etc.. along with a kids vitamin supplement.

Answer 4

Firstly, You are doing the best you can, and you shouldn't let it wear you down, I know from experience that parenting is a job all in itself, and some of the aspects of it are not very pleasant.  Your child may need to see a pediatrician, if you haven't already gone that route.  But, your child won't starve to death, because you won't let that happen. In my opinion if your child only likes oatmeal and yogurt, and if it works for you, then right now let him have that.  If he only likes to take Enfamil Stage 2, then give it to him.  Do what makes you feel comfortable, and at ease with your child, and makes him happy, so long as you know he's not starving, and is getting appropriate viatmins and nutrients to support his growth.  While you are feeding him the things he likes, put things that might interest him out on his tray, he may not eat them right away, but one day soon he will be interested at what it is, and will try it.  My daughter went through a phase where she ate nothing but Gerber Graduates Cheese Puffs, Hot Dogs and Fruit Gummies.  But, she is still gaining weight, and growing, and because the Gummies and the Puffs were fortified, I didn't have to worry that she was going to get sick, or starve.  I didn't have to fight with her, and she got what made her happy.  I like to pick my battles, and I know I only eat what I like as an adult, and don't like to be made to do things I don't want to do, the same goes for your kids.  The only difference is, of the things that they like, you get to present them with things they just don't know they like yet.  Don't get frustrated, and don't give up!  If you keep trying, keep offering, I bet that one day this phase will pass, your child will get some teeth, and will want to eat things that will suprise you.  Until then, STAY STRONG!  The only thing I would strongly recommend you do is if you continue with the formula is give it to your child out of a sippy cup, rather than a bottle, because you are just asking for a whole number of other issues later on.      

Answer 5

why is this a fight???  give the child small, balanced meals throughout the day and healthy snacks in between.  be sure he has lotsa fresh water during the day.  it's hot outside and most of us have limited our intake.  you are being manipulated, so why give in to the behavior -reward positive behaviors only.  if you suspect there is a medical cause for his behavior, see the pediatrician.  take some parenting classes and get some counseling for your control issues.  mealtime needs to be relaxed and peaceful.

Answer 6

This is probably a question better directed to your pediatrician. He may just be extremely picky, or he may even have some kind of food allergy that makes him feel bad when he eats certain foods.