10 Month old not eating

Q: Hi I have a 10 month old boy & he refuses to drink any formula since 8 months. I've tried changing from Lactogen to Nan HA and he still refuses. The past two weeks he stopped eating cereal and veggies. The only thing he wants to eat is the Pear or Apple 3rd food purity. I've tried different cereals and even normal maize meal. What I do now is hide the pumpkin and sweet potato and fish in the sweet stuff.

I'm extremely worried that he is not getting the right nutrients. I've since got him a multivitamin to supplement his meals. Everyone keeps telling me that it's because he's teething. He's 3rd and 4th teeth are peeping. And he now wakes up every 30 mins. He has never slept through since birth. I'm worried that he's not getting enough iron & protein because he refuses to eat. He drinks diluted juice, rooibos & water but not formula. I am really desperate for help. Thank you for your help. Nkateko A: Dear Nkateko, Thank you for your email. Do not worry that your little one is not drinking milk. It is not the main source of his diet at this age. Try your best to hide as much formula in his food as you can, and encourage yogurt, cheese, dark green vegetables, ground almonds, custard and softly boiled egg yolk as much as you can. It is important that he takes a good iron supplement, as a multivitamin is not enough supplementation for him at this stage.

Keep trying to offer him a variety of foodstuffs, and accept that his appetite will wax and wane, especially if he is teething. There is a calcium tonic called Floradix Saluscydal which is easy to tolerate and pleasant tasting. He would benefit from this. You will find it at your nearest Dischem, or health shop. Best wishes, Ann Richardson