Picky 11 month old

For three weeks my 11-month-old daughter is not eating any solid food but these organic broccoli, kale and cheddar baked snacks. I thought the issue was her wanting to feed herself mostly, so I've given her other finger foods like carrots, kale chips, sweet potato fries, peas, broccoli, balled up pieces of her baby food, crumbled hamburger meat and pieces of chicken, but all she will eat are the cheddar snacks. We gave her her own little spoon to make her feel more involved in feeding but that didn't last long. The first two weeks this started we were able to slip in mouthfuls of baby food in between her grabbing her snacks, but this week she is closing her lips together refusing all baby food, and we can't get any spoonfuls in her mouth at all.

Should we stop giving her the snacks totally? It seems to be lasting a while for a phase...as long as she's having formula, is she getting enough nutrients? Are we feeding into the behavior (literally) by letting her have the snacks? We are at a loss and keep putting the food in front of her but nothing yet.

As long as she is growing and developing normally than this likely represents normal behavior. I agree - you should stop buying these snack foods and therefore stop serving them to her. She will eventually find other foods to replace the lost calories. Ideally, she would replace them with a variety of table foods.

Despite seeing this happen to other families, our oldest daughter became apple juice addicted as a toddler. We eventually quit purchasing it. She would ask for juice and then search the refrigerator and pantry. Only when she was certain that juice was not an option did she move on and eat other things.

How much milk is she drinking? She may be eating little solids because she is drinking all the calories she needs. During the first year of life, children can obtain all the nutrients they need from formula. The average 9 month drinks 25 to 35 ounces of formula a day. This milk need slowly decreases and the average 12 month old needs only 12 to 16 ounces of whole cow’s milk a day. By 11 months, most children would be drinking less and obtaining many calories from table food.

If you are concerned about her growth or feel she is not eating enough, take her to her doctor.

Written November 2011 by
Dr. Gordon, Windermere Pediatrician