9 month old has refused solids for five days while two top teeth come in

cedar_pigeon_742220 Aug 2026

Two teeth coming through on top, we think, and for five days he has refused almost everything on a spoon. Milk is fine. He'll gnaw a cold carrot stick while we watch him, but won't swallow anything. The doctor saw him on Monday and said teething can do this and to keep offering. My mother is convinced he's losing weight. Our caregiver tries every hour on the hour, and he's started crying when he sees the bowl. How long did your baby's food strike last? Did you keep offering all day or only at meal times?

4 comments

ochre_pool_75520 Aug 2026
Ours did this with the molars, closer to a year and a half. About a week, then she ate like she was making up for it. The every-hour offering made her angrier, I think. We went back to meal times only and stopped watching every spoon.
- cedar_pigeon_742220 Aug 2026
  Up with him right now, so this helped. The every-hour thing is what I'm trying to stop. My mother and the caregiver each think the other one gives up too early.
fern_moon_125521 Aug 2026
Our elder one at that age refused everything except curd rice from her ammamma's hand. Nothing from us at all. I'd check if it's the food or the person.
- cedar_pigeon_742221 Aug 2026
  It's everyone, including my mother. Though he did take two spoons of mashed banana from the caregiver this afternoon, so maybe it's lifting.
dusk_marigold_275021 Aug 2026
Cold things worked for us. Chilled curd, frozen fruit in a mesh feeder. Only for a few days.
silver_rain_770122 Aug 2026
As a dentist: a few days of eating less while the upper teeth come through is common, and the gums are usually sorest just before the tooth breaks the surface. If it goes past a week, or he cuts down on milk too, or there's a fever, I'd go back to your doctor rather than wait it out.