Callum is 11 months and has lost his appetite
I feel I’m in a real mess at the moment. Callum is eleven months and for the last few days has refused most of meals only taking 3-4 teaspoons of food and refusing all milk feeds. He has a runny nappy and it is bright yellow, sometimes it is very watery. During the days he is well in himself: happy, running about, no temperature and taking his normal daytime sleeps, but come to mealtimes he just changes and becomes fussy, crying and wingeing etc.
My dilemma is that he waking 2.30am-3.00am, very upset and will not resettle without feeding where he takes 7-9 oz very well and goes straight back to sleep and wakes at 7.00am.
I have taken to adding at vitamin syrup to his water and he does seem to be thirsty more than usual. I make a point of not giving any fluids after tea (5.00pm) to encourage his bedtime milk but this has failed of late.
To give you idea of what he had eaten over the last 2 days:
Tuesday
No milk drink
1tsp of weetabix
No snack
3 tsp of lamb casserole
No snack
3tsp veg lasagne
1 oz of bedtime milk
3.00am – 7 oz milk
Wednesday
No milk drink
3 tsp of peachy porridge
No snack
3 tsp of cottage pie
No snack
2 tsp of veg lasagne then tried baked beans and sausage (2 tsp) then tried rice pudding (refused)
2 oz bedtime milk
Can you shed any light on the possible causes of his loss of appetite.
Thanks
Karen
Take Callum to the doctor to have him checked over for any sign of an infection. It is especially important that you keep offering him fluids to prevent dehydration. Babies can have one or two days where they don’t eat much but their fluid intake must maintained.
Try to tempt Callum with some bright finger food. Use lightly steamed vegetables to make faces on small pizzas or omelets. Cut mild cheese into slices and then use fancy cutters to cut different shapes to tempt him. Offer him mini sandwiches, spread with the yolk of a boiled egg, mashed tuna or other filling which he may enjoy. Make him smoothie drinks with fresh fruit and natural yoghurt.
Whilst Callum is off his food you must think of things which will tempt him. The visual impact of food is important so think of ways to present meals which will encourage his small appetite.
Until you discover the reason for Callum’s diarrhoea I think you will have to go on giving Callum some milk at night, because he is genuinely hungry then. Once his appetite picks up again I am sure it will be easier to drop that feed.