Daughter refusing to eat but extremely active

[zazou]

I am really concerned about my daughter. about a month ago she had a cold and started eating less but not as badly as the last two and a half weeks. Before that she was eating wonderfully. Now it's a struggle to put a few spoonfuls inside and almost a battle. I have to try and calm myself not trying to force feed her because of the long-term negative effects it can have on her.

At birth she weighed, 4.06 kg and was 56 cm long. She has weighed the same since a month. She is extremely extremely active so I wonder how can she go on not eating much!! Sometimes I think she is not getting enough breast milk but she does have wet diapers and she still drinks 1-2 times during the night. I have recently more lost weight and have PPD which peakd in the last month, could this play a role in the quality of my breast milk?

One bottom tooth has erupted and the second looks as though it will soon. May it be due to teething? Is it normal that it lasts tis long? I am worried she is iron-deficient as well because she is constantly yawning and rubbing her eyes but doesn't sleep any more than usual.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Renee Radenberg]

She has been through a lot and not feeling well. At 8.5 months she can start to eat finger foods which she may accept if she was feeding herself. If she likes the yogurt, then feed her that 3 times a day. Some tips for additional calories: Add cheese sauces to the pasta instead of plain tomato sauce or plain pasta, and to vegetables, if she eats them. Add dry milk to oatmeal, mashed potatoes, gravies, creamed vegetables, and creamed soups (add additional protein sources to soups such as meat). Hoped this helped you.

[zazou]

I had my daughter checked by the paediatrician last on the 19th March. She weighed the same (and was 75 cm). SO now it is more than 1 month later, she had a phase where she was eating OK and now we had a long plane trip and are in Australia (from Germany). She is not eating much, not drinking much (also breast milk), refuses to drink much from a bottle. Both bottom teeth are out and it appears as though the top are common in, so she is teething and now she has a cold (even before that she was eating badly). I'm at my wit's end because it's almost 2 months of not eating much and her pants are falling off her and I can feel and see her ribs. I don't know what else to do, I just feel rather helpless and also upset that she won't eat much (she gets a variety of food, alot of homecooked). I started giving her baby yoghurt for breakfast and she likes that.

I really need any suggestions because I'm just so worried about her and upset.

[Renee Radenberg]

Her weight is on the 50th percentile and her height is on the 95th percentile for her age. When an infant's appetite decreases it is usually due to not feeling well. You stated she is teething which might be effecting her appetite. If it continues, suggest having her checked by her Doctor.