feeding problem

The week before my one year old turned one she stopped accepting the spoon. So I have become creative in preparing food that she can pick up herself and eat.

She was always hard to feed and had to be entertained while fed. Now she sits with her food in her tray and does not thrive at all. One meal would be a small amount of chicken size of chicken nugget and few pieces of pasta, a couple of grapes. She does not touch breakfast.

Weight wise she started as a 25% baby, now she is below the chart. My pediatrician seems relaxed about it. Suggested that we could see a specialist if we wanted too. My husband and I are beside ourselves.

To the doctor's suggestion, we have started crushing half of a children chewable vitamins and giving to her, hoping that zinc will bring back her appetite. I do not have much luck getting her down her throat. She has no teeth and cannot hew on her own. She does not finish her juice for me to mix it with that.

About 11 months, she was showing no interest to my breast, so I started weaning her. Now she accepts my breast about three times a day, but I am not sure of my supply after almost weaning her!

Since the feeding problem became more of a problem, more change came her way. Her nanny quit which I am sure is no help. She started daycare where she goes half day and after four weeks she is now starting to play a little bit, but she cries after I leave until she falls asleep and then mostly fusses. She does not eat any better there either.

I have two questions

1- What can I do about the feeding. I am at a point that I can accept her small physique, but would her mental development be affected by lack of proper nutrition?

2- What can I do to help the daycare adjustment better? I am hesitant to bring in another nanny. There is always a problem with saftey, their consistency in showing up in the morning, and them quitting. I have heard that if the baby does not adjusted in four weeks she will not adjust. Is that true?

I appreciate any help, ideas to try or suggestions.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Ms. Ghaffari,

Relative to the daycare arrangement, it is not the case that adjustment won't occur after four weeks. Children are very different in this regard - there's no predicting. I'd be patient with it - she is already showing some signs of adaptation.

Relative to your daughter's eating, continue to offer her small amounts of food (don't overload her plate), doing your best to provide nutritionally sound meals. Mother nature usually takes care of these things, as long as you're offering the food. In other words, as she is hungry, she will eat. Stay away from foods with high sugar content (I'd also be advising to stay away from junk foods, but this is pretty much a moot point since she is unable to chew them yet). Try to be casual in offering the food - i.e., don't make a big splash around it or try to make it too entertaining, apart from the typical distracting things we sometimes do). And continue to be in close touch with the pediatrician to be sure your daughter's overall health is good.

[Bahar Ghaffari]

Thank you for the response, I have a follow up question which I have posted.