Hi guys, just thought of writing about Savir's appetite. Previoussly he used to eat whatever he likes. For the past one month, he is not eating properly. Solid food atleast I am trying my level best to feed him. But milk he refuses to drink even a single drop. He drinks whenever he is fast asleep. When he is awake he just runs away. Eating is also a problem now a days. At the most he eats 2 to 3 spoons well. Nowadays he nods his head if he doesn't want. I am trying new things, one day I give him macroni and chesse, one day rice, one day idli and so on. I am really worried as he hasn't gained that much weight from his last appt. He just has gained like 10 oz in the last 3 months. I am trying my level best to be patient. Sometimes if I am upset he would eat 2 spoons, just to satisfy me. I am worried...... Hetal replied. Hi,
about the apetite, its expected to come to certain steady level after 9months of potential/full growth,,,for ne healthy child..reasons cruising,,likes and dislikes and preferences change,teething, vaccnations,,,his actual body fat melts and now their body will be concentrating on developing a good muscle tone and well built muscle strength...
result of all, is reduce in apetite, all over wght reduces or rather stabilizsss and mothers in us feel that baby apetite has reduced...just imagine what if the baby wght keeps increasing at the rate it was in past 12months,,he will become fat ! from 12months onwards the growth percentile per wght is calculated differently than we do for infants (0-12months)

wat is his birthwght and wats his current wght,,and wat does your dr say regarding it,,if your dr is fine, you shouldnt be worried !
you have to understand that from 0-12months of your baby life, he will reach triple his birthweight,,from 1-2years his weight esp from 9-12months to 16months, his wght remains steady or doesnt doesnt gain at all,,,,then from 16-24months he will gain average % of his growth rate !!!!
otherthings, that might reduce your child apetite, is
1. change in flavours : babies 9months onwards are ready for mild spices,,so offer them,,,
2. change in texture : play with textures,,that might help,,,,
3. varieties : diff varieties with lots of vegies and fruits of diff colours in one plate,,makes them interested in colours and thn eat them..also diff shapes attract them..my dd gags idli,,i got cookie cutters,she eats star idlis !! sometimes playing with taste also helps her,,like stuffed idlis,mix vegie idlis,some sprinkle of coriander leaves or just the dash of the idli pwder(masala),,
4.self feeding : some kids want to learn to eat themselves so badly that they dont accept foods when fed ! so see if that makes him eat.
5. 15month onwards most babies gag with milk and its products,,the reasons have been unknown and thats the main reason why most of the milk additives are from 15months and onwards...
so you might want to introduce them : nesquik,horlicks,jr complan or whatever your dr recmnds you,,ask your dr what is right for your baby,,some babies are suggested malt based drinks and some are offered milk based drinks and some go for soy based malts !
also, if the wght is really low, your dr might ask you to start savir with pediasure,,
6. lack of apetite might be because of something coming on your way, recent vaccination or mild fever, sudden increease or decrease in temperature,,and 15months is just the right time for premolars,molars,,,see if thats the reason !!! nirja was on fast for almost 2 days,,no food at all,,suddenly she reduced and after that 2 days no food,,,then she got her premolars,caniness..
check on his bowels n bladder, behaviour, schedule, temperatures,,water intake and later on ne further reduction in weight,,,grinding teeth gums and see if nething is goin on there !!!

7. offering in differnt cups like colourful designs strawcups, glasses might help ! adding some cardamom to baby milk is said to increase apetite on ayurvedic point of view,,you can try that,,see if that flavour he accepts.
also giving spoons and something new to play that is not her toy like your purse or so,,and talk to her and feed her,,see if that works ! watching tv and feeding might work,if at all your child likes some specific programs or dvds...
8. offer mini meals and reduce snacks..at 15month a baby is expected to eat 1/4-1/2serving of an adult,which means if you take 1 roti in one serving your child is able to eat easily 1/4th-1/2roti with curries !
9.put him to schedule of 3-4hours, minimeals and he will be hungry, will be ready to eat nicely. at 15months onwards, toddlers bodies, often try to follow the 4 hour cycle of adult kids and often are hungry in that time duration...dont offer nething like biscuits inbetween,,,if your child takes meals every 4 hours,,he will not fuss with eating.
breakfast, brunch,lunch, postlunch snack,and then dinner and if needed before night snack is required to be offered for developing good eating habits.
10.cows milk is to be offer 2-3times a day, depending on your child intake,,some kids were not able to eat well, when the milk was given..like my dd prefers a whole feed of 7oz cows milk as her snack and doesnt take nething in mouth in noon,,so i will reduce her morning andnight feeds to 3-4oz,,which is just enough,,,
11. reduce the intake of juices,,not more than 5oz is needed now,,,juices are said to reduce the apetite and some kids are so sensitive to it,, that they feel full after it...so check on that,,
12.offering warm soups with lots of vegies and pastas in it, during the prelunch brunch time or after breakfast time,,,might help savir in building a good apetite,,tomato soup, chicken clear soup, tofu and pasta vegetable soups are all great soups,,offer with crackers or so and in a week most kids were badly hungry during their lunch times,,the concept of soups as appetizer is for that only !!!

what is his diet chart ?? from morning to evening,,if you tell me i will frame some schedule for you...
if at all you want some other ideas of menus you can view the posts in feeding board,,considering savir age...
offer multigrains,wholegrains, meats,proteins in his diet and concentrate more on them,,as these the healthy dietry habits that your child has to learn to accept it..
its too early for your child to understand LIKES AND DISLIKES,,most of the times the things like flavour, texture or other meals offered with the foods itself makes them runaway from food...and not the actual food,,,so even if he shows his preferences with disliking one food,,you will be trying to offer the same food after some days with diff flavour,,,afterall you dont want your child to become a picky eater...

finally, there is one more reason,,not eating with family might be the reason check on that,,check on the type of diet he is taking,,if he is having mac n cheese, its high expectation from a mother that her toddler will eat ne other thing after 2-3hours...4 hours cycle works for most babies at this age,,and they ate well !

hope this helps you catch the reason as to why savir apetite has reduced... take care, love to savir.
Sheeja replied. Hi Sudha, In each phase our lil toddlers behave differently. As u said, Trisha's wt gain is also less in these 3 motnhs.She gained 1/2 pound,thats it. Though she is 80% in her wt gain now, her Ped told not to worry.As they are running and being very active all the day with minimal nap time, their wt gain wud be very less.
Regarding food,by this time we have some idea that what they like and they dont,isnt? Like Trisha likes Indian food much than these mashed potatos and cheese.
U can try Horlicks,boost.I give her junior horlicks whenever she says no to milk. Moreover i give only 2 glasses milk perday. morning and evening. She takes nicely in glass or straw cup.
I guess, if u are using bottle or sippy cup for milk, why dont u try straw cup.That change can make him to drink milk.Trisha was taking in our regular glasss nicely, then suddenly she refused for 3-4 days. Then i gave her straw cup, she liked it.
About solids, if he is fully adament in not eating, leave him. Feed him when he is really really hungry. I guess this will work. coz some kids who were eating snacks at untime, they refuse eating meals.
Also reduce snacks totally for two days, so that he will get adjusted to full meals each day. Sheetal replied. Hi Sudha,

Let me tell you wat anushka does nowadays. She just wants to eat everything by herself. Doesnt let me put one spoon in her mouth though she has like 5 spoons in her hand. Wat I am doing now is just give it to her. Even yoghurt. I just give her those fruit yoghurt cans and a spoon and she eats by herself. Of course, its a mess, I dont think even half of the can goes in her mouth but then, atleast some goes. She is eating less becoz of this, but i guess this is her learning phase.

I told you this bcoz perhaps Savir would like to eat things by himself. I would suggest you to just give him the food in his dish on the high chair. Let him play, let him spill, perhaps some of it will go down his throat.

She has hardly gained any weight in the last three months. I know it bothers you to see him not eat, but you can try giving him the food and see if he likes to play with his food.

Regds,
Sheetal