Can a Baby's Appetite Change?

Your baby's first year contains many ups and downs, from differing sleep patterns to a changing appetite. Development, illness and even teething can all be culprits for a baby's lackluster appetite, but there can be more serious causes. By knowing when to worry and when to relax over your little one's appetite, you'll be able to act quickly if you sense there's a problem.

  1. Development and Age

    • As your little one goes from newborn to infant and eventually nears his first birthday, you'll see a change in his eating frequency and the amount he's able to consume at each feeding. When you first bring your newborn home from the hospital, he'll want to eat frequently but may not be able to eat large quantities. As his stomach grows and he's able to hold more food, he'll naturally decrease the number of feedings each day. While this may seem drastic, he's not actually losing his appetite -- instead, his feeding schedule is being naturally altered by progression in his body's development.

    Teething

    • Teething can sometimes cause a slowdown in your baby's eating habits and a change in appetite. As your baby's teeth come in, you might notice that she's fussier and drools more, but a lack of appetite is might be related to a mild virus, pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton tells BabyCenter.com. He points out that the stress of teething can actually affect your baby's immune system, resulting in illness that accompanies the teething process and can affect your baby's appetite.

    Illness

    • One of the main culprits of changes in your baby's appetite is illness. Whether it's an ear infection, the common cold, the flu or some other ailment, your little one is just like you -- when she doesn't feel good, she won't eat. While skipping a feeding here and there when running a fever isn't a big deal, call your doctor if your baby refuses several feedings in a row and has other symptoms such as a high fever or lethargy, suggests MayoClinic.com.

    Treatment

    • If your little one has changes in appetite, let her take the lead. Babies eat instinctively and rarely refuse feedings when still hungry. Continue offering breast or bottle regularly and note her new feeding habits -- without forcing feedings -- before adjusting your schedule. If your little one fails to gain weight, continues to skip feedings or seems disinterested in food, make an appointment with your pediatrician to explore other issues that could be affecting your little one's appetite.

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