EBF baby won't eat food

**@llli*jadeashley84** · August 21st, 2012, 12:24 PM

My 11 month old son has been EBF and won't eat or even put any food in his mouth. I have tried to puree, steam & give him whole fruits and veggies. He doesn't want any part of it. He also will not take a bottle or sippy cup. My pedi said to "force feed" him at 9 months so that he didn't develop texture adversion, but I didn't do that. My supply is fine and its keeping him satisfied but he is nursing every 2 hours still and my nipples are extremely sore from his teeth. Has anyone else has a child that didn't eat food until this late of age??

**@llli*lidarln** · August 21st, 2012, 12:31 PM

what does your son do when you are not there? assuming you have left for a 2 hour or more stretch at some time during the last 11 months...

**@llli*mommal** · August 21st, 2012, 02:07 PM

Does your LO explore things with his mouth? Does he gnaw on toys, eat dirt off the floor, just generally use his mouth in curious ways? If so, I wouldn't worry. Eventually he will decide to explore food as well, and most kids start eating as they get into the exploration process. At this stage, it's not a big deal if your LO isn't interested in solids, because he can stay well-nourished on breastmilk alone until around a year, and many babies continue to be mostly breastfed well into their second year.

But if your LO has some sort of aversion to using his mouth to explore, it may be time to talk to a specialist. Maybe an ENT?

ETA: I can't believe your pediatrician wanted you to force-feed your LO! There's no better way to set up an aversion to solids and battles ivermectin food than by forcing a kid to eat when he doesn't want to.

**@llli*jadeashley84** · August 21st, 2012, 02:48 PM

I haven't left him for longer than about 2 1/2 hours. That's the main reason I am ready for him to start eating food or at least take a bottle/sipppy. I have no problem nursing past 1 year, but I need a break!
And yes, he does explore things with his mouth by chewing on toys etc. he will even chew on a bottle nipple or soppy cup, but he won't suck it.

**@llli*joshuas.mommy** · August 21st, 2012, 03:23 PM

Have you tried allowing him to feed himself? Do you have family meals together? If not, I'd try having dinner together and serve him the same thing as whatever everyone else is eating (whatever parts of the meal would be appropriate for him, that is). You and Daddy eat and make a big deal over how good it is and show that you're enjoying it--yum, yum etc. See if he'll pick up the food and try it when it's presented to him that way. Babies this age love to copy whatever the 'big people' do.

Also, have you tried feeding him anything other than fruits and vegetables? Some babies have texture preferences. Maybe try cheese, yogurt, crackers, bread, etc?

**@llli*lasbi.modeu** · August 21st, 2012, 06:47 PM

Totally agree with Joshuas.mommy, I would do at least one meal together, eat the same as him but I would NOT force him at all. Let him explore if he wants to but if he doesn't want, let it be. They sense when we "want" them to do something and by experience, if someone wants to force ME to do something, I will do exactly the opposite

kids are the same as us, just with less experience :P
Try to relax about food and he'll eventually eat (as mommal said, as long as he does explore through his mouth) you will get a break, don't worry.

**@llli*ohiomama** · August 21st, 2012, 06:54 PM

My DS1 was much the same. It took him a bit longer to become interested in solids, but he was nursing 8-10x a day at one year and his pedi wasn't worried.

I agree with what Mommal said, though in my experience the specialists are still not concerned until LO is 18 months and still showing signs of oral aversion. Joshuas.mommy and lasbi.modeu have good suggestions too

(Aside: Mommal, are you a victim of autocorrect? I saw "ivermectin" and wondered what the heck worms had to do with this

Been a long time since I've come across that word!)