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Suggest Ways To Decrease Food Refusal In A Child

Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016

Question: My baby is 6 months old. I started solids 15 days back. initially he was very happy with solids. but suddenly before some days he doesn't like anything. I tried all flavours of cerelac and heinz. He just eats cerelac rice morning and evening but doesn't have interest. He finishes half bowl and starts crying. He was eating 4 spoons of cerelac happily but now 3 spoons also is difficult. I will soon start work and I am tensed as to how to feed him. I normally feed him on my lap. Rest he has milk but is very naughty. hardly finishes a 90 ml. He is 8 kg.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Continue trying for the feed

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

Weaning of babies is a process which really needs patience.
Here I would request you to continue trying for feed.You may change the complentry food to home made rice water,dal water,mashed boiled potato or mashed boiled apple.
Transient decrease in acceptance of food is common in this age group.
Don't get overly worried.I assure you that with your continuous effort you will get out of this.
Try different food items for better acceptance.

Please let me know if you have any more query.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (6 minutes later)

Thanks doctor. I have tried each of the above you said. in fact he is intolerant to apple boiled. He had a blood dysentry. but he liked it. but doesn't like anything now. is it ok if I stop solid feeds? its just getting into my nerves now. till now many months is it ok to just give milk? will his weight decrease? he is quite chubby now. I don't want to loose on that either.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Weaning is important for proper growth

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

I do understand your concern.But stopping solid feeds is not a solution.
Instead of this I would request you to continue your effort.Avoid the foods,to which the baby is intolerant(like if you have noticed that he is intolerant to apple).
Improper weaning affects the growth of baby as after 6 months the calorie and protein requirement can not be fulfilled with milk alone.
Again I would suggest you to give him a variety of semisolid food items like oats,rice water,dal water,barley,suji kheer/halwa.
Gradually he will get adapted to these items and will enjoy the feeds.
So don't get discouraged as this is time where proper introduction of complementary foods is needed and you have keep your nerves strong.
You can take help from your family members like hubby or in laws to get the support.
All the best.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (29 minutes later)

Thanks again. When is the we can introduce curd to baby? plus should a solid meal replace a milk feed? baby is normally hungry in 3 and half hours and before that he doesn't prefer to eat or drink anything. even he just takes 2 scoops of cerelac, he gets irritated and doesn't eat anything for next 3 hours?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (23 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You may give curd to the baby

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Curd can be given to the baby as a complex tart feed.Even yoghurt is considered to be good complementary food item for weaning.
You may increase the frequency of semisolid food as per demand and tolerance.Giving milk during night time and three to four times during day time will be sufficient.
As I have mentioned earlier it is difficult to introduce complementary feed in some babies and mother should try all the measures to feed the baby.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (50 minutes later)

Thanks again. What if he doesn't accept even one solid feeding a day? for month and months. I force feed him twice thoug. that too only cerelac rice. Everything else he doesn't like.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I do understand your concern

Detailed Answer:
I do understand your concern and would again request you to not to worry much.
The weaning(the word which means itself 'gradual process') is a gradual process and one should not get overly worried about it.
But yes one should also not loose the hope and must continue trying for feed.The baby does not accept solid and prefer milk for long term only when the caretaker stop trying to feed.So with continuous effort you will surely make it.

I hope this helps to alleviate your anxiety to some extent.
Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar