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What Causes Low Appetite In Infants?

Posted on Tue, 20 Oct 2015

Question: Hello doctor,
My son is 8 months old now. Since when he was just 2 months old he didn't take feed easily, he used to turn his mouth and cry whenever I used to give him feed. We slowly started giving formula through spoon and then bottle and at 3 months he totally stopped taking breast milk. And same thing he do with formula milk, but I started giving him formula through bottle by engaging him in various play activities, that is I have to divert his attention from milk by showing him various play activities, toys etc. And same situation continues now. Now when I give him solids, juices he doesn't take anything and I have tried various things, he doesn't like anything. Sometimes I drop some juice forcefully in his mouth through dropper. Please suggest why is it so and how can I give him solids and milk easily.

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

Brief Answer:
Complementary feeding is a gradual process

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for asking on this platform

First I would like to know the current weight of the baby.I won't get overly worried if he is gaining weight adequately,active,playful and passing urine adequately.
Complementary feeding (introduction of Semisolid food)in babies is a very gradual process.
I really appreciate your effort regarding the feed.
You can give khichdi,suji ka halwa,dal ka pani,mashed potato,mashed boiled apple etc.
Give vitamin D3 supplement till one year of age.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (2 days later)

Hello,
My child weight is 8.8 kg at 8 months, he is very active and playful.
The thing is that whenever I put anything in his mouth he just cry and turn other sides, so does not eat anything.
Whenever I give him milk , its very difficult for me to handle him and letting him having milk. He does not take bottle easily, I use new ways, use toys, various things to divert his attention from milk, so most of d time I feed him while he is sleeping.
I just want to know why he is so reluctant in having milk and otherthings? He just likes water very much.
1. Till now I was giving him lactogen, but from last one week I have started giving him cow's milk in day time and lactogen in night. Is it OK?
2. Please suggest the name of vitamin supplements?
3. I use dropper to drop the apple juice forcibly in his mouth, is using dropper OK?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Pradeep Kumar Jain (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Weight is appropriate for age

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for follow up

Growth of the baby is best indicator to assess whether he is feeding well or not.
So don't get worried regarding the feeds as the weight of 8.8 kgs at 8 months of age is very good.
So I suggest you to just try to feed the baby(don't force).
Let him eat what he wants.
I won't recommend you to give him cow's milk as there is a chance of cow's milk protein allergy below 1 year of age.
Giving lactogen is fine.You can also give home based food.
Give vitamin D3 supplement like D3 must or Kidrich D3 1 ml daily till one year of age.
It is always better to give by spoon as chance of infection is higher with dropper.Even if you feel to use dropper make sure that it has been cleaned properly in boiled water.

I hope this helps.
Take care
Regards

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