7 Month Old Not Eating

Updated on February 17, 2008
N.S. asks from Des Plaines, IL
24 answers

Hello moms,

I have a 7 month old who on Saturday night around 10 pm, vomited twice - her oatmeal/squash and then her formula. She has been drooling for over a month and her last exam at the doctors a month ago showed swollen upper gums w/o evidence of any ulcers in her mouth (she would get fussy around dinner time and not want her food and once I held her or waited she would be back to normal and be hungry again).
ANYWAY, we only gave her formula on sunday and she was quiet, no fever, and did not vomit; I gave her avacado on monday - we tried to go back to her normal routine (both squash and avacados she has been eating for the at least two weeks)and once I gave her some formula a half hour later to put her to sleep, she threw up all the avacado on me...since then we have stuck to just formula and stopped any solids. So yesterday, I attempted to give her oatmeal and she would close her mouth and not take it...this is a child who can eat like a horse and loves avacados and oatmeal...she doesn't have a fever, she is teething and I think the teeth are starting to come out, but she is fussy ALL DAY LONG! I gave her some tylenol yesterday afternoon and she finally giggled...Is this her teething??? How do I get her to start eating??? There is no more vomiting, she does not have diarrhea, she is popping again and even finicky with the milk...is this a phase?? is this the teething??

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

Try topically numbing her gums and after a short time see if she'll eat. A thing about teething is that it makes the mouth produce extra fluids, so her belly might be full from the extra fluids she is ingesting. Another thing to keep in mind is that the pain of teething does not stop once the teeth cut through the gums; it continues as the teeth grow out. So the pain can come and go for a while. As long as you keep her hydrated,(try a random bottle of Pedialyte just to be safe) you do not have to worry about her. It is true that when she's really hungry, she'll eat.

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E.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi
Maybe all the extra drool she's swallowing is irritating her stomach? Also, is her nose runny? Could be dripping down her throat bothering her stomach. With teething you never know what to expect!

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K.C.

answers from Chicago on

At this point as long as she is drinking I would hold off on the food for awhile. Besides formula, also give her other drinks. Water etc. Good Luck.

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D.S.

answers from Chicago on

dont worry about giving her solid foods right now if she is throwing them up.....a baby will eat when they are hungry and they will eat what they need for their bodies to be maintained....just let her have her milk for now and give her more than you normally would if she wants it , to make up for the lack of solid foods , and part of it may be due to the teething , espicially the fussy part , the throwing upp is her little tummy has decided she isn't quite ready for these foods after all

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C.T.

answers from Chicago on

It may be something as simple as her being sick of the same food. Her stomach may not be able for so much heavy food. Avocado and oatmeal would both be very heavy over a long period of time. try giving her something new. Perhaps try banana or a few spoons of rice instead of oatmeal. Try squash on it's own. Is she taking finger food yet? Start with small amounts of food and see if you can build up over time.
My daughter is 9 months old and I give her rice/oatmeal with fruit in the morning or yoghurt with rice. At lunch I give her one of the chicken veg mixes or chicken veg rice and at dinner I give her plain vegetables. I've been told at nine months to balance each meal and give her potato/pasta, meat and veg for lunch and dinner with a little fruit for dessert.
I think the trick is variety and also to make sure that the meals are not too heavy i.e balance carbs and grains with veg, fruit and meat.
Hope that helps

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W.G.

answers from Chicago on

Try giving her frozen green beans to chew on. Relieves the pain in the gums with no side effects. Also, massaging her gums with your fingers with gentle pressure can also alleviate the pain and help the teeth to come through.

W.

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C.L.

answers from Chicago on

YES this sounds like teething....my son did exactly the same thing. I was visiting family over the holidays and he basically stopped eating for 3 weeks and when I forced him to eat, he would throw up.....so my advice would be not to force the issue. Remember that all babies need for the first 12 months is liquids, solid food is merely a learing tool so dont panic as long as she is drinkiing and she will let you know when she wants her food back....good luck

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J.E.

answers from Chicago on

You need to listen to your instincts somethign is wrong, with teh drooling it is most like a sign of reflux and then the vomiting but it sounds like it could be eosnophilic esophagitis. you need to check into this with a GI dr and an allergist how ever please know that with allergy testing and EE (eosnophilic duisease) almost always the allergy testing is negative and only patch testing will show results due to the skin bein ghte same as the gut,
please do not let any dr tell you this is nothing if not it sounds like it could be reflux but I still think it is more sorry n ot sure what but you know your child and all the symptoms
good luck
J.

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Well she is only 7 months old so it isn't necessary that she eat solid food. She very well could be teething. My oldest would throw up, have a runny nose, run a fever, and have the runs every time she cut a tooth. If she can't hold down solids right now then don't give them to her....just let her go with the formula. At her age it has all the nutrition she needs (unless you are doing Needo or powdered milk...which some people do).

Have you tried the numbing gel for her gums? Mine hated it but some babies don't mind and it helps.

A little tylenol won't hurt either if she's super fussy and/or has a fever.

Teething can be very frustrating because it is hard to tell until the teeth breakthrough...so I feel for you. My oldest didn't cut a tooth until she was 11 months old, but the youngest started drooling and everything at about five months and then cut two or three teeth at once right before she turned 7 months. She was one miserable baby off and on for several months because she just cut one right after another.

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J.P.

answers from Chicago on

I've heard other moms rave about "teething tablets". I haven't used them because I didn't know about them when my first daughter was teething, but will defintiely use them when my youngest begins to get her teeth. I guess they are all natural, so it's safer than giving Tylenol. They are supposed to calm the baby and give relief for the pain. I think they're available at all major pharmacies, with the baby meds. If they don't work, then you'll know it's not her teeth. Good luck!

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L.B.

answers from Chicago on

I know its challenging not to worry but they WILL eat when they are hungry. I dont know what I would have done without tylenol & yes its temporary but initially she may do this somewhat before each tooth erupts. My favorite 'trick' to sooth teething is allowing them to gum frozen mini bagels. You have to monitor them so they dont choke once it defrosts but it relieves the pain really well.

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Our then 5 month old did this over about a week, with two separate occasions of a lot of vomiting. What scared us was that she had real vomit -- you know, heaving and coughing -- not just the regular spitting up of food. We associated excessive spitting up with food allergies, so the vomiting was new. Anyway, we're apparently nervous parents, and she was so pitiful, so we took her to the ER on a Saturday night: they told us she had a little stomach flu and to wait it out. We took her home, she was fine... four days later, another big vomiting spell. The ped. said that babies can be sick with stomach flu and seem fine, but still be carting it around for a few days. Sorry this is so long... but I wonder if your daughter just caught a bug. (One last aside: after the flu, she had big aversions to foods she had thrown up. Like they reminded her of vomiting -- we had to switch from rice to oatmeal -- and we've never been back).
We haven't had any teeth yet, so I don't know about that.
Good luck!

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D.K.

answers from Champaign on

Hi, She is probably having a lot of trouble with the teething, which is not unusual. She may also develop very loose stools and a diaper rash so watch her bottom as well as her mouth. Tylenol and a numbing gel for her gums with help (baby numz-it---can't remember the exact name but you buy it over the counter)Perhaps you remember your wisdom teeth coming in. Your gums swell, go down, tiny points come through, and eventually more of the tooth breaks through. It's painful. Yes it is not uncommon to be fussy all day without a pain reliever...also she may get a low grade fever. As long as she is still drinking, I wouldn't push the solids. She'll eat when she's hungry and when it's less painful so try feeding her about a 1/2 hour after a dose of Tylenol and see if she'll eat then. She is probably associating pain with food since it's in her mouth. Also she may only have one tooth coming in but many children get at least 2 or more at the same time. OUCH. D. Mom of 3 mostly grown and nanny of 3

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

The babys' gums are sore. Biting even a soft chunk of avacado can give them discomfort. Don't try to overfeed her. She'll eat as much as she can handle or want. She'll be fine mom. Try not to worry. A tooth will probably pop out anytime now. Remember the symptoms for the next time so you'll be ready. It's an aweful feeling to not be able to help baby but we all go thru it honey.

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J.F.

answers from Chicago on

I would bring her in to the pediatrician to rule out reflux or some other medical issue. Better safe than sorry. Although all kids go through eating changes and refusals you always want to rule out a possible medical problem. They may tell you to go to a specialist (ENT - Ear Nose and Throat Dr.) or see a speech therapist if this continues or becomes a problem. It's not typically serious but like I said I'd go in to have the Dr. clear her for eating safely. You can also try other food vs. what she typically eats - she may just be bored too with what she has been offered.

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M.V.

answers from Chicago on

When my daughter was teething (granted it was a while ago - she's losing them now) Baby Orajel helped ALOT. I'd rub a little on her gums when she started getting cranky and it worked immediately. It might be worth a try. Good luck!

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J.D.

answers from Chicago on

Hi there,

I haven't read the other posts, but it sounds a lot like my son when he was little. You might want to check with your doctor about reflux. Sometimes babies have it really bad and they projectile vomit. I would also talk to your doctor about possible food allergies.

Good luck. JD

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D.L.

answers from Chicago on

Another girl just posted a very similar post. I'm not sure about the vomitting but if the tylenol helped, it's likely to be teething related. Or maybe she had a cold. I agree that orajel helps a lot! I use the swabs and their great. Between the orajel swabs and tylenol, and letting her gnaw on something frozen (those teethers and a freezepop in the plastic), she seems to get a lot of relief.
And by the way, my daughter drooled like a maniac for a month before a tooth finally popped through. She's drooling like a running faucet now so I'm sure another tooth is about to come through.
Good luck
p.s. I never heard of giving infants avacado. That's ok? Like just a plain fresh avacado? I bet that puke surely wasn't fun!

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

Most babies go through these stages. Just stop giving her food. She'll let you know when she's ready again. It may also just be the combo of the formula and certain foods that don't sit well in her tummy.

If she keeps vomiting, I would suggest a trip to the doctor.

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V.S.

answers from Chicago on

Teething is really hard on some babies. My 17 mo old is still teething. She does not want to eat and is very fussy for at least a week before/during a tooth eruption. Her sleep habits change too. I would not worry about the eating. Your baby will make up for it next week and will probably eat everything in sight. Just worry about making her feel as comfortable as you can. Tylenol works. Also, there is a homeopathic gel and liquid that you can buy at most drug stores. It doesnt have a name but it is in a white, blue, and pink box and I think it says teething relief. The liquid helps with the stomach upset.

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S.M.

answers from Chicago on

Our pediatricians rules of thumb are if they are still drinking fine, then not to worry too much about the eating. My soon is a big kid with a big appetite and his eating habits are hit or miss when he's teething. If I were you, though, I'd call the doctor.

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L.B.

answers from Chicago on

1. Talk to her nurse practitioner/doctor ASAP. Rule out the most serious things first.
2. She has had swollen gums for a month but no teeth have erupted?
3. Have you tried a teething ring that you put in the freezer?
4. Have you tried a topical pain reliever like Baby Orajel?
5. Always remember, Tylenol or any medicine your baby swallows affects her whole body. Something like Orajel only affects the gums where you apply it. If you give her Tylenol, that will not only affect her pain level, but will also mask any fever that may be trying to show a problem like an infection.
I am a nurse (RN) and an attorney--that is, in part, why my first suggestion is to talk to the appropriate professional.
It is highly unlikely that there is anything serious going on. Your baby's vomiting could just mean that she's temporarily sensitive to her squash or avocadoes, etc. When you start feeding her again after a vomiting episode, start with water, then go to formula. When you get to real food again, start with ONE food until you know she's going to keep it down; then try another food. If you reintroduce too many foods at once, you won't know if one of those foods is causing her vomiting. You probably did this exact same when you began intoducing her to foods initially. Have you changed your brand of baby food? Gone to or from organic? Gone from made fresh by you to store bought? Any of those changes mean your little one is getting different additives, textures, freshness levels.
Sorry for preaching. Your request asked the right questions: you thought the issues through and ariculated. You go, Mom! Good luck to you and your family.

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L.H.

answers from Chicago on

hang in there in a few yrs you'll wish they'd stop eating!

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C.W.

answers from Rockford on

sounds like teething to me:) sometimes there regular food is to heavy for the tummy's when teething try some fruits,or mild veggies peas carrots that are easy on the tummy plus when teething sometimes just juices and water are best and formula only once or twice what help a lot when teething is good old cold pops a piece right before eating freezes the gums so no pain a bit messy but makes the mouth feel good

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