Ask an Expert Answers
Question
My daughter will be 11 months old in 4 days. She was given exclusively breast milk until we introduced solids at 6 months. Then, after her 9 month appt our pedi suggested supplementing with formula to plump her up (was in the 5-10% in weight). We have started introducing finger foods as well. So far so good, no problems at all...until this week. She isn't eating very well. She doesn't seem to want formula from her bottle or sippy cup. She's doing pretty well with the sippy but only seems to want water from it. When we put formula in it, once she gets it in her mouth she will just open it and let it all fall out. She also doesn't want to eat the food we are offering her (other than bananas...I think she would eat an entire bushel). I know it's common for babies to want to "do it themselves" at this age in regards to food. But, I'm just really concerned that she isn't getting enough formula.
Answer
Submitted By:
Answered By:
Question:
My daughter will be 11 months old in 4 days. She was given exclusively
breast milk until we introduced solids at 6 months. Then, after her 9 month
appt our pedi suggested supplementing with formula to plump her up (was in
the 5-10% in weight). We have started introducing finger foods as well. So
far so good, no problems at all...until this week. She isn't eating very
well. She doesn't seem to want formula from her bottle or sippy cup. She's
doing pretty well with the sippy but only seems to want water from it. When
we put formula in it, once she gets it in her mouth she will just open it and
let it all fall out. She also doesn't want to eat the food we are offering
her (other than bananas...I think she would eat an entire bushel). I know
it's common for babies to want to "do it themselves" at this age in regards
to food. But, I'm just really concerned that she isn't getting enough
formula.
It is very common for an infant's taste to change, or to go through phases she refuses certain foods. At 11 months of age, she should still be taking breast milk or formula 3 to 4 times a day, typically 6-8oz each feed. She is still too young to start on whole milk, but she will be able to start this after 12 months of age. At this age, infants typically want to be more independent and feed themselves, so you can also try giving her a variety of table foods that are soft and cut in small pieces. As long as she is taking enough in that she is staying hydrated, continue to offer her the formula in a sippy cup or bottle, and you can consider a formula brand change to see if a different taste might be more palatable. Above all, make sure she follows up with her pediatrician to monitor her growth.
Please Note:Healthcare professionals providing information are members of the Seton Family of Hospitals Medical Staff as physicians or allied health professionals. Their responses are for informational purposes only, and are not posted on the same day as questions are submitted. Due to the volume of questions received, not all questions are guaranteed to be answered. Content of “Ask an Expert” is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always contact your doctor or other healthcare professional with questions about your medical condition. In the event of an acute illness that needs immediate attention (i.e. high fever, bleeding, trauma, etc..) or emergency, please contact your doctor or 911 immediately.
