Parenting Community Forum - Not Eating Much

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Q: Not Eating Much

asked by: jessesgirl on August 26th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

We started Ava on table food about a month ago. She doesn't eat much and it drives me nuts.
She's particular. She doesn't like to be fed from a baby spoon or bowl, she likes a regular bowl and spoon. I guess it makes her feel like us.
Most of the time she won't eat something different unless I pretend to eat it or take a bite first.
Typical day:
1/2 waffle, 1/2 peach for breakfast
2-3 bites of whatever we eat for lunch
2-3 bites of whatever we eat for dinner

Sometimes she's refuse the food and not even try it, but take a vanilla wafer or puffs 2 minutes later.
I'm still giving her 6 oz every 3 hours. She's 9 1/2 months old.
I know she'll eat when she's hungry, but I wish she'd eat more.

List of things we feed her and how much she takes:
Graduates raviolis - I heat up a container and she'll eat 3 and that's it!
fresh fruits - A whole fruit, she LOVES fresh fruit!
mashed potatoes - a few bites
rice- a few bites
ham sandwich on wheat - 1/4 of the sandwich
whole wheat bagel - a few bites
whole wheat waffle - 1/2
noodles - a few bites
whole wheat toast - 1/2

She'd eat peaches and toast all day if I'd let her, but I want her to eat veggies. What's going to happen when she's off formula and she's still refusing veggies?

She hates fresh or cooked veggies, she won't even try it!

I want her to eat healthier and I think she should be eating a little more that what she is, but she turns her head.
I waste so much food. I fix it and pretty much throw the whole thing.

My dad gives her animal crackers or vanilla wafer cookies, which I wouldn't mind so much if she'd eat healthy food too.

Replies(9)

rosejackson

replied on August 26th, 2007

Supporter

williams fussy like that. would she eat more if she fed herself like finger food?

jenniek

replied on August 26th, 2007

Active User, very eHealthy

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. I don't know much on this as we have just started Brayden on solids so we aren't quite to this kind of problem but...

Does she eat the baby food veggies? Maybe back her up a step to baby food veggies and establish those once again before giving her the real veggies. And try limiting her fruits and other 'sweet' foods while you are doing this. Eventually shes going to eat... Also I read that you are feeding her a bottle every three hours. Maybe she getting too full off of that? I got this chart thing thats says babies 4-7months should get a bottle 4-5 times, 7-9 months should get one 3-4 times and 9-12 months should get a bottle 3 times a day. (Sorry I can't remember exactly how old she is but maybe considering not giving her a bottle so often)

Just suggestions.

Mommy35

replied on August 26th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

As long as she is gaining and is healthy you I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Fruits are healthy for her. Maybe try cooking a sweet potato in the oven with a little bit of orange juice. It gives it a sweet flavor. Put a bit of cinnamon in squash. After I cook carrots I put a little bit of brown sugar in some melted butter and then coat the carrots. I'm not sure what you could do to peas or beans to make them taste better to her. She'll come around. It's probably just a phase she's going through.

When she's not drinking formula anymore you could always give her some vitamins if you think that's best. Truthfully they don't need a lot to sustain themselves.

SamanthaM

replied on August 26th, 2007

Supporter

Ethan used to hate veggies, but now he loves green beans and corn. If I give him fruit and veggies at the same time, most of the time he will go for the veggies first. She might just change her tastes over time..

jessesgirl

replied on August 26th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Wow, I didn't realize how long that post was. I think I may be giving her too much formula. She gets a breakfast bottle, a lunch bottle, a snack bottle, a supper bottle, and a nighttime bottle. Those are all 6 oz. and she gets 1- 4 oz. bottle with each nap and about 8 oz at night with all of her nightwakings she's still having. If I cut back on the bottle and she gets more solids that might help at night too.

That's 46 oz in 24 hours!!! That's too much. I never counted. I'll be making changes starting tomorrow.

rosejackson

replied on August 27th, 2007

Supporter

yeah shes probably too full to eat normal food. maybe cute back a bottle and see what happens. if she eats more then cut another bottle out later on. good luck and i hope things get better x

tinkinpink84

replied on August 27th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

yeah, you should give her normal food before a bottle, then see how it goes, thats what i am doing with jordynne, i feed her table food first sometimes she eats alot other times she doesnt then if its not a meal time and shes hungry i will try and give her a snack or a bottle, she just turned 8 mthsold and is poppin in 2 teeth. she is getting quite a bit of formula still.
Does she wake up at night for bottles in the middle of the night still?

jessesgirl

replied on August 27th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Yes, I always offer food first, then a bottle. Yes, she still wakes up twice a night for a 4 oz bottle each. This week I'm starting to water it down and see what happens.

Eyes Wide Shut

replied on August 30th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

also, you've got to realize that they're stomachs are the size of one of their fists. SO, even if she is only eating 1/4 of a sandwich, that should fill her up.

Oni is a heiffer, and eats EVERYTHING we have...but it's the summer time, and babies normally don't each much when it's hot. Especially with our heavy heat, she's cut down A LOT!

With the fresh veggies, and even the cooked ones, try giving her some ranch sauce to dip it in. Oni LOVES to "dip" her veggies!!

Also, try not to put HUGE portions in front of her. Start off with barely anything on her tray, and once she's finished, add a spoonfull more.

There's all kinds of ways to trick the kids into eating...but in the summer, it's damn near impossible! lol!

Do you put syrup on her waffles? If not, I'm sure she'd LOVE it! Oni LOVES to eat whatever cereal I'm eating (which is usually frosted mini wheats). She'll sit next to me and grub!

She loves her applesauce too in the mornings.

I hope this helps a LITTLE. I know it can get frustrating. But with babies, esp at 9-10 months, sometimes you've got to try foods 10 times to get them to FINALLY accept them. try, try, again!

Sarah

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