1 year + and still only nurses! Help!

amother

Taupe

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 6:56 pm

Posting anon because I feel like I am the only one with this problem.
My son is about a year and a month, with plenty of teeth, he is a nice weight... But he ONLY nurses! He refuses to take a bottle or sippy cup (even with breast milk inside!) and refuses to eat solids (that includes baby food, adult food, snacks, ice cream- you name it!). He will NIBBLE at food, and then throw it away. He has absolutely no interest.
But I am sick of nursing! First of all, he bites me quite often now. Second, I want my life back- I want to be able to drink as much as I want, eat as much fish as I want (I love tuna and salmon), and go away for the day. The entire day.
How can I get him to eat????? Please help!

amother

Slateblue

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 7:58 pm

my dd2 was like this! oh my gosh, by the time she turned 13 months, I had had it!!!!!! Banging head

does your baby sleep through the night? the only sort of normalcy I had with her was that she weaned from night time feedings at about 10 months bh..but during the day...
I tried every sort of bottle, every sort nipple, you name it. its a very, very hard age to get out of habits.
so what ultimately worked for me, was starting by nap time, sitting with her (even if it would take an 1 hour) with a juice sippy cup (obviously she refused milk) and read her a million books, and laid down with her. that took about probably two weeks, then I worked on before bed time feedings, and the same, I did it sloooowly, and yes she screamed, and yes my other kids were going insane because I would disappear for a long time but by 15 months, bh I was all done.

after that experience, I promised myself I would always introduce a bottles to my babies, just so I have the option.
good luck!

amother

Violet

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 8:02 pm

If your kid is hungry or thirty enough, he will eat or drink. You may have to stop nursing cold turkey. When my son refused to switch from a bottle, I only gave him a straw cup and by late morning he finally drank from it. And then not more bottles.
I just feel like cold turkey is kinder because they don't keep having the thing they want right in front of them.

Have you asked your ped about this? Maybe you need a feeding specialist to see there is a prob with feeding that you don't know of.
It may be tough, but if your kid is physically capable of eating, he will eventually. If he fills up on milk then there's no need for food so maybe pump and limit it to after meals.
Sorry, that sounds rough. Probably will be a hard transition esp if he is stubborn, but you should be able to get through it.

amother

Taupe

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 8:39 pm

amother wrote:

Pediatrician isn't worried since my son is at a healthy weight. But the pediatrician is not the one with sore nipples...
I would pump and limit to after meals, but THERE ARE NO MEALS! I'm serious! This kid takes half a nibble and loses interest. Should I starve him for a day?? That feels so cruel Crying

amother

Violet

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 10:21 pm

amother wrote:

I wouldn't say starve him for a day, but I wouldn't give milk after he just nibbles. Give him time to get hungrier.
What do you normally do after he nibbles at food. Offer milk? Does he still seem hungry after he stops eating?
Are you just offering the food at normal meal times or waiting until he seems really hungry?
At this point he prob know he doesnt have to eat because he gets mill. But if you stay strong and say no milk, you need to eat something, eventually he'll get it. At least that's what I would do.

amother

Taupe

Thu, Jul 16 2015, 10:34 pm

amother wrote:

Hmmm that does sound good. Lately I haven't been paying attention to when I give him food, I just try numerous times a day. I guess I have to be more cognizant as to when he is starting to get hungry.

Miri7

Fri, Jul 17 2015, 12:07 am

Ha e you tried going out for a few hours and letting DH or someone else try to feed him?

Maybe when he is hungry and ready for a meal and you aren't available he will be more interested.