Loss of appetite at 22 months

[sushee]

Charlie has always loved his food until recently. He'd eat most things and well too - he'd have bikkies late arvo, then a full bowl of dinner, then yoghurt and a half a cup of milk before bed.

But in the last couple of weeks, his appetite has fallen off significantly. Despite his very healthy appetite previously he has always been a lean baby, but with him eating so much less now, he's losing weight enough that I can see it when I look at him.

He's been refusing dinner in favour of just a tub of yoghurt at dinner time, and not really having much of his milk either. His day carers also say he seems to be eating less during the day, where he used to eat really well before. I know he hasn't been very well either (first an unexplained fever then a touch of gastro) but one thing I always could count on was his appetite.

He doesn't seem worse for wear for it, in fact he's as active and happy as he's ever been. He just isn't eating much and he's losing weight.

Is it just that he's losing his baby fat? Or becoming more picky about his food? Or being sick has put him off his food? Or all of the above?

Should I be worrying?

[Cath78]

Chloe is 24 months and we have been going through the same thing! Meal times are now my least fav time of day

I have put it down to her getting teeth. I think I can see the last molars coming through. And she just started with a minor cold yesterday so I figure maybe she had a sore throat or something?

This has been going on for 1 - 2 weeks.

Chloe is also small for her age but still seems happy. I have just been trying to get her to drink more water and milk to keep her fluids up. I have been told in the past as long as they are having plenty of wet nappies and also having dirty nappies then I shouldn't worry. But it so hard not too!!!

I have been trying not to stress too much (they can sense it) and not put too much pressure on her to eat - and last night was the best food wise in what feels like a very long time!

[{sarah}]

Alexzander was exactly the same Sush and has only now around a year later started eating properly again & trying different things. It got to the point where he was eating almost exclusively fruit and bread as he wouldn't allow anything else to touch his lips at all. He lost weight, but nothing too serious, the thing I kept an eye on was his energy levels and they never seemed to waiver so he was getting energy from somewhere!

Hang in there, it might be short lived

[sushee]

I actually noticed this morning that he's got a molar through, with another coming, but it does feel like his eating patterns are changing on the whole. He still has at least one dirty nappy a day, and I'd say that in hindsight he used to eat quite a lot, and now he's eating what's probably about right for his size. I suppose he's not growing quite as quickly anymore and doesn't need the kilojoules as much as he used to produce the same amount of energy?

He is getting more finicky (I suppose he can afford to me if he's not really that hungry) so I may have to try to engage his interest in his food more. Before this, he'd eat anything I shovelled into his mouth! Lol!

Thanks for letting me know it's pretty normal.