“ I have a 19mth old little boy who was a great feeder up to a week ago. Now he is refusing solids or anything savoury. Every meal is a struggle. I’m trying to get a bit of fruit into him, little bits of bread with peanut butter, vegetable soup, beans. Strangely he has no issue eating anything sweet. He is still taking his bottles and is well hydrated and not teething at the moment. Any advice as I’m afraid he will become under nourished. I’m considering starting him on 10mls of abidec per day as a supplement.”
There is a big red flag to any doctor (or dietitian or paediatric nurse) in your question: your 19 month old is still taking bottles. (But no, it is not surprising he likes sweets – he’s a toddler! Most weaning babies and toddlers learn quickly to refuse foods just to see what more tempting food you will bring next in your desperation to get them to eat. You have to be one step ahead of that game.)
Children with no specialist dietary needs (as determined by a CORU/INDI registered dietitian or consultant specialist paediatrician) should be drinking full-fat cow’s milk from a cup as their drink with meals from age 12 months. There is no need for follow on milk or formula after age 12 months.
Healthy children do not need supplements unless recommended by a qualified dietitian or doctor. They can not and do not “boost immune” or many of their many other claims (dietary supplements are not medication, and as such, this profitable industry in Ireland is largely unregulated.)
Children need a healthy, varied diet. Your job is to make it tasty and interesting (yeah, I know, easier said than done!)
Excessive milk or unnecessary formula intake in toddlers is a common health problem. It not only causes decreased appetite but other problems such as malnutrition and constipation.
Facts you should know:
1. Giving a toddler too much milk is a real cause of malnutrition — and most commonly presents to GPs or specialist docs as either constipation or when the mother worried that child has no interest in a varied diet — because the milk reduces appetite for food.
2. Do not give your toddler more than 500mL of milk in more than 24 hours. Do give them a varied diet.
3. Milk is essential for growing bones and teeth! It’s usually recommended to aim to get your toddler about 350ml of full-fat dairy, including milk, yogurt, and/or cheese.
4. Full-fat cow’s milk and water are the appropriate meal time drinks for toddlers. Alternative “milks” (soy/almond/etc.) are not milks, and should not be used unless on the advice of doctor/registered dietitian. Your toddler does not need juice. Your toddler does not need follow-on milk, unless prescribed by doctor/registered-dietitian.
5. Make sure your child under 12 months is getting an appropriate Vitamin D3 supplement (check with your registered chemist).
6. If you are worried about your child’s diet, get information you can trust from a CORU/INDI-registered dietitian, GP, or PHN. Unregistered nutritionists, osteopaths, kinesthesiologists, chiropractors, health/supplement shops are among practitioners with no recognised qualifications in Ireland to advise on children’s diet, including allergy diagnosis or exclusion diets. Never start your young child on an exclusion diet without expert input.
7. Safefood and INDI website are two excellent nutritional resources you can trust. You try starting at:
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