Claud, Karen, Heather...any BTDT Moms-HELP!

If I could draw upon your experience...

Luke has always been a good eater, with the bottle but especially since we started him on solids. He gets one solid meal in the morning and one in the evening and a few bottles in between. He's still fine with the bottles but now this past week he has started getting very fussy when it comes to his solid meals. He takes a few bites and then he starts crying or fussing and refuses any more. His third tooth cut through last weekend and he's probably getting that fourth one very soon so my first guess would be that it's hurting his gums BUT I've been giving him some more chewable stuff lately, mainly Cheerios or the Gerber wagon wheels or things of that consistency and he manages those with no problem. It's not like he lets them dissolve in his mouth, he crunches away at those Cheerios. His gums seem fine with those so that's why I question if it's teething with the refusal of the solid meal. My other thought is that maybe I'm giving him too many tastes of things in between meals? Other than these 2 thoughts, I have no idea what's up with him. Anyone else been through something similar?

The 'Mommy Fear' at work here: That he's going to become a picky eater like my nephew who only eats hot dogs & cheese. I've been very impressed with what a good eater he's been so far.

Thanks!

He may have a little tummy ache if he is teething. Is he drooling a lot? Because if he is swallowing his saliva it may make his nasuseous. I wouldn't worry too much ( sorry to jump in but this happens all the time in our baby room and it usually teething. )

Emma went through a phase not too long ago where she would only have 4 bites of dinner and refuse to eat anything else. I had the same fears as you but all the research I have found says that they will get all the nutrition they need some how. They will eat when they are hungry. Maybe it was too hot for him to eat, ya know when its 100 degrees you dont want a meal you just want bottles.

Maybe give him a few bites, let him fuss but dont take him out of his chair, wait a few minutes then offer it again. That seems to work for me.

I would also guess like you said its his teeth... crunchy things are all he wants and as long as you offer that he should be fine.

oh boy - can I totally relate here. Justin is not the best eater in the world. Somedays he does great, others just liquids and bread

I happen to agree with both Stacey and Karen that its probably his teeth. Also, I think kids know the difference between what we want them to eat (solids) and what they want to eat (cheerios, goldfish, etc...) Heat could be adding to eat, especially if it just started this week.

My pediatrician always tells me, they are not going to starve themselves. They will eat when they are hungry. All kids, I think, go through a faze of not eating at times. Don't worry to much, before you know it, he'll go through a growth spurt and will be eating just fine!

We go through this all the time. Patrick has 3 teeth coming through & he pretty much refuses to eat. He'll have his breakfast but the rest of the day. It's a tough call. Try giving Luke yogurt. At least you know he's eating. That's what I do for Patrick. He gobbled 2 yogurts this afternoon I was so happy!

As Heather said they won't let themselves starve. when they are hungry they will eat!

Tracy actually took my suggestion - try something COLD....if his teeth are bothering him, he might enjoy a YoBaby yogurt or cold applesauce or some mashed up cold banana. When Paul went through a phase like this, it was usually due to teething, and lots of times, cold yogurt, custard and pudding got us through it. Good luck I'm sorry he's having a rough time.

Heather - what pediatrician do you use? Paul's doc says the same exact thing to me about their nutrician.

Thanks everyone...I guess I was thinking it was not the teeth b/c of him wanting the crunchier foods but it sounds like I am wrong. DH had him out today and said that he hardly finished his bottles. Tonight he had a nice bowl of cereal and fruit. I usually give him the fruit in the AM and the veggie at night but I figured he'd be more likely to eat the fruit. He ate it all, with slight resistance in the beginning but I stopped briefly and he ended up finishing it.

He does like yogurt so I will be offering that more too and I'll take it a day at a time with him. Thanks for the suggestions.

Actually, chewing the crunchier foods helps him break those teeth through his poor little aching gums! Don't worry...his appetite will come back soon!

Claud - we use Dr. MAurice Gunsberger in Levittown - or as Justin calls him, Dr. Hamburger