A one year old almost exclusively breastfeeding is not necessarily a bad
situation, but the situation can become difficult.  There *is* the
problem of iron and some toddlers breastfeeding only do eventually
become iron deficient and anemic.  I am not convinced of that the
hysteria in the pediatric community about poorer cognitive development
and anemia (not just iron deficiency).  By the way, this is another
example of people believing what they want, perhaps on the two sides.
Pediatricians have bought into the anemia and poorer IQ as if it were
gospel, but refuse to believe the breastfeeding and better IQ, even
though the studies for the benefit of breastfeeding are better and there
are more of them over many years.

The problem is that there is no way of "forcing" a child to eat solids.
Trying this will likely only make the situation worse, not better.  Some
children only really become interested in food later, but it is
difficult in an individual case to know who will start eating and who
won't.  The ones who don't often become very thin.

Sometimes zinc deficiency may cause poor appetite for solids and
correcting this will result in better eating of solids.  I have seen a
cure with zinc supplements once, but who knows if the zinc really had
anything to do with it.

Sometimes getting the child into a play group where all the other
children are eating, will encourage the baby to eat.  Children are
fascinated by children and often try to imitate what they do.

The mother can also put all sorts of food in front of the baby so that
the baby can experiment.  No pressure to eat, and no observation of what
he is eating, because this should not become a battle of wills.

Aside from iron, however, if breastmilk is provided in sufficient
quantities, there is no problem with protein intake or any other type of
intake.  A baby who is 28 lb at 1 year seems to be getting a lot.

This problem of not eating is a very sticky one.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC