My daughter is on strike w/ her SOLIDS

Ashley - posted on 01/31/2010

My child does this from time to time. Not really a strike but certain times. So I found fun things for her to eat it out of. She is 9 months old and LOVES straws and "big girl" cups. So i make the food watery to wear she can drink from a cup (smoothie type thickness) or a straw (usually fruits). Maybe that will work for your child. introducing a fun way to eat it??? :)

Amity - posted on 01/31/2010

I was told that there are three things a child can control 1) what goes in 2) what goes out and 3) what they say. You are doing the same battle with number one that we are. Some days my little gal will eat others not a chance. She prefers to feed herself so every meal time I will put finger foods down (small bits of boiled veggies, scrambled egg yolks, bits of toast, bits of cheese, fruit, cereal etc) for her while we eat and I know this sounds silly, but we "ignore" her......we don't fuss if she doesn't eat, we don't cheer if she does eat....we just let her be and she will usually eat. Just don't stress about it, because they pick up on it and dig their little heels in even more and the last thing you want to do is make this a control issue. Good luck, I feel your pain - it is so very frustrating!!!

Sheila - posted on 01/31/2010

My daughter is doing the same thing, our doctor said basically the same thing yours did. We found that she wants what we have to eat and wants to eat with us. So I will give her bits of what we have- things that she can have and that seems to work. If I try to feed her baby food while we eat our food it does not work. Our Dr. told us to never put anything in her bottle but her formula as it can be a choke hazard and swallowing formula is a different motion then chewing and swallowing. He also said by using a spoon, resting between bites (which lets her know when she is full faster), and stopping when she lets me know she is full, lays an excellent foundation for good eating habits.
A major study looking for the causes of obesity found that short-circuiting young children's self-regulation of how much they eat is a major cause of later obesity.
Cereal in the bottle does just that.

My daughter also loves rice crispies and cheerios but I have to brake the cheerios in half. Or she likes the gerber ones that melt in the mouth but those I have to brake into little pieces or she will start to choke. All the cereals I give her one at a time or she tries to grab a handful and stick them all in her mouth. My aunt also told me that she had this issue with a few of her kids and with them it got better once they could have a sippy cup rather than a bottle.
I am of course have no idea what will really help being a first time mom, just thought I would let you know what I found works for us so far.

Michele - posted on 01/31/2010

Try putting instant breakfast into the bottles and try the liquid supplements for babies as well I put the cereal or vegetables in the bottle and cut the hole bigger when my twins (9 months) wont eat from the spoon they will drink it from the bottles so far i havent had problems Good Luck

Monica - posted on 01/30/2010

My son and I have been doing the same dance. He will eat fine once, then the next time we eat he gags himself and absolutely won't eat.

The only advice I've been given is just to keep on trying. My little one will eat the yogurt, and some times the Gerber puffs work, sometimes he gags on them. He doesn't really like the baby cereal and he will gag on it if it is mixed too thick. I've tried offering him the chance to self feed, but it just ends in gagging.

I have found that I get better results if I have something to distract him. Sometimes a small toy or his own spoon to wave around. I have also had good luck with a change of venue. When we go visiting he may eat 4 oz or more! The one other thing that helps, and it is sooo messy, is when I let him stick his hands right into the baby food. He wears more than he eats, but some of it goes down!

I think my little one is stuck between wanting to self feed, and not really being ready to chew. You might be in the same boat. I hope this helps. Good luck!

Michelle - posted on 01/30/2010

My son is the same, BUT the only baby food he will eat is fruits and custard and on the odd day waxed beans, I dont think its abnormal, but maybe sitting her chair at the table while you eat and let her try and feed herself?

Emma - posted on 01/29/2010

Pls Pls don't get too worried!!`Yr little one will sense this so try and keep calm especially in front of her. I think you may have an advanced bubba there who wants to eat like Mummy and Daddy so try giving finger foods eg. toast fingers rice cakes banana slices, breadsticks...carbs are very important for them.

Try and make mealtimes a family thing and let her see you at the table eating,talking and having fun with food. Whatever you do DO NOT FORCE FEED YR CHILD.

It takes time for them to work it all out but it will come together!

My daughter will have good days (when she isn't teething) and other days where she will only have a few mouthfuls of yoghurt. A baby under 1yr should still have milk has her main nourushment.

Wholesomebabyfood.com has some good ideas and recipes and since i have offered home cooked food, my daughter has ate more. If she is not eating alot i would certainly make sure what she is eating is good quality.

Hope you find some of this helpful.

Katty - posted on 01/28/2010

Have you tried letting her feed herself? Like cutting up some fruits or veggies. Or giving her cereal Os or puff snacks. Or maybe yogurt which is a dairy as well. Don't give up she will come around. Good luck!