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19 month old eating habits

Q.
Hello, I ran across this web-site searching for information about my 19 month old baby's eating habits or should I say the lack of. I am very worried about her. She eats very little. In fact, she hasn't ate anything in about 6 days. I am still breast feeding her because I am worried about her starving if I weaned her. She has never ate baby food, she won't let me spoon feed her anything. Occasionally, I can get her to eat cucumber slices, and maybe an 1/8th of a chicken strip if it has alot of catsup on it. She refuses milk or juice and will barely drink water. She weighs 19 lbs at 19 months old...she weighed 8 lbs at birth. The doctor didn't seem too concerned at her 18 month visit. But, I am thinking that her appetite should be increasing by now. I am very concerned and frustrated. I have 3 other children that were all very good eaters. Do you have any advise for me? Oh yeah, she also chews up her food and spits it out.

A.

I don't necessarily have the answers for you but I will try to help with suggestions. Are you and Baby's Daddy small framed people? Sometimes small people just have small children. If she is not thin or any signs of illness you are doing okay.

Some babies at 19 months go through an independent stage. You might try for a while, sweep and mop your kitchen floor then lay out healthy snacks like a dry breakfast cereal up on a chair and a sippy cup of juice or water and just let her graze all day. Still have her sit down to meals with the family but don't push it. Put a bite or two of a few things she might eat or needs to eat and then let her go at it with fingers or what ever she wants. If she wants your help eating offer but don't push.

Sometimes letting a toddler be independent, kind of like eating is their idea helps. Some kids are just what they call "grazers" they get the calories they need they just eat a little all day to get it.

It is common for toddlers to go through phases of 2 or 3 days where they eat hardly anything but then they usually make up for it later.

Sometimes a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement will increase the appetite while giving the added nutrients so Mom doesn't have to worry if baby is not eating a well rounded diet. We have found the "Flinstone Complete" to be a really good chewable vitamin.

I commend you for continuing to breast feed. Do what feels right and only wean when you and your baby feel ready. They say breast feeding up to 2 yrs can still be a big help to baby.

Mary Howard is a Registered Nurse, mother of two, and enjoys natural gardening. Come visit her Homegrown web site

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