refuses baby food

Karri - posted on 02/15/2009

I use baby cereals to thicken my baby foods if needed. It is quick, easy, convenient, and there is no choking hazard. I figure it gives an extra iron boost too, so it's a win-win.

As for starting meats at 7 months, well, some babies do, and some babies don't. It isn't a dire necessity. I tried to give my daughter meat purees at 7 months and she absolutely refused to eat them. She despised the texture and didn't want meat until it was small chunks on her tray that she could feed herself at about a year, and she eats meat just fine now. So I wouldn't worry about having to introduce everything in a specific timeframe.

I am actually trying a new idea with my son, to introduce hom to meats. I am going to start him with the flavor of meats first, before moving him on to the meats themselves. He isn't ready just yet, but when he is, I am going to start him on chicken stock -- homemade with no salt added, of course) -- mixed in with his veggies. Then, gradually I plan to start adding a little of the actual meat. I have heard of others having success ths way, because it bypasses the texture issue.

Another way to do bananas and avocados (both excellent ideas, btw... very high in wonderful nutrients that babies need to grow) is to use a solid feeder. They look sort of like a pacifier, but the part that they suck on is a mesh bag that snaps open to put food into. The baby then can chew on that and suck the food out through the mesh, They get plenty of texture through it (not super smooth mush), and they get a healthy snack. It is also wonderful for apple and frozen banana, which are great for teething!

Good luck!

Courtney - posted on 02/11/2009

Quoting Emily:

Use common sense of course, but thick cereal is not a choking hazard - it's things small enough to swallow but big enough to get stuck. Like, say, those rubber high-bounce balls. In most cases, a baby will just gag back out whatever he can't swallow. Sounds to me like he's looking for a bit more texture than the baby food is providing. Seriously, seriously, try slicing up some avocados. They're fun to pick up, and difficult to choke on because they're soft, hence they don't get stuck. Same with french fries - break off the crispy end, then hand him what's left and let him suck all the starch out of it.

Yeah, you could try peas, avocados, mashed bananas... Those were my baby's first foods.  They don't all like the smooth mush.

Emily - posted on 02/11/2009

Use common sense of course, but thick cereal is not a choking hazard - it's things small enough to swallow but big enough to get stuck. Like, say, those rubber high-bounce balls. In most cases, a baby will just gag back out whatever he can't swallow. Sounds to me like he's looking for a bit more texture than the baby food is providing. Seriously, seriously, try slicing up some avocados. They're fun to pick up, and difficult to choke on because they're soft, hence they don't get stuck. Same with french fries - break off the crispy end, then hand him what's left and let him suck all the starch out of it.

Holly - posted on 02/10/2009

I agree with above posters - you need to look at your child and not at the calendar. There is no magic date by which they are supposed to be eating this or that, each child is different. Maybe he would like to try something that is not pureed? My son did not want to eat any food until after 9 months, then he did not want baby food. He started with a very soft, steamed asparagus spear! He sucked on that thing until he had sucked all the juices and soft stuff out of it! Soon he was eating little bits of ground beef and everything. He wanted food with texture, that he could pick up and eat himself. Its amazing how well they can "chew" their food even without very many teeth. Of course, we only gave him things that were basically soft and not going to be a choking hazard, and we watched him very close can taught him how to take small bites and chew.

Food is only for fun and learning before one year old, they are still getting all their nutrition met by breast milk, so there is no need to get worried... Just nurse your baby all he wants, offer him food as a fun activity for exploration and enjoyment. If you take the pressure off, I bet both of you will enjoy the experience more. I do not think you will have a situation of creating a picky eater - like I said, my son did not even start until after 9 months and he will eat anything...

Jennifer - posted on 02/10/2009

My little guy didn't start to really eat baby food regularly until he was 8-9 months old. I would just try once a day to see if he would eat it, and if he didn't, I wouldn't push it. At 12 months he was eating table food like a champ! Your baby is getting plenty of wonderful nutrients from your breastmilk. Don't worry, that he may not eat it at all, he will! Every baby has a different timetable as to when they are ready to try new things.

If I were you I wouldn't worry about giving him the cereal at all. Giving fruits of veggies is much better nutritionally for them. Cereal doesn't really have anything in it that is that wonderful for them. Be patience. Just wait a few days and try again.

Jennifer - posted on 02/10/2009

at 7 months he is suposed to start meats isn't he but i haven't even done all the veggies and fruit i know if i wait too long he might not want to eat it at all. he seems interested in my food more then his own. also he won't eat his cereal unless i make it thick. and baby food isn't as thick as his cereal. how can i make it thicker but not a choking hassard, as well as taste sweeter???

Courtney - posted on 02/10/2009

I agree with Jennifer.  Probably isn't ready.  Drop it and start again in a month or so.

Emily - posted on 02/10/2009

My son refused baby food, but he loved canned green beans, avocado wedges and french fries - he could grab them and *eventually* find his mouth. Some babies just don't have patience for unseasoned mush, if only because they can see that you're eating something else. (That means he's unusually perceptive, you lucky lady!) Try making things for yourself that are a bit mushy and easy to grab, and let him have things from the same bowl you're using to dish yourself up.

Nicole - posted on 02/10/2009

See my reply in the following thread that has information related to your question:

"My 15 month old is still breastfed and doesnt seem to want to eat ANYTHING but breast milk! HELP!! "

Remember, eating in the 1st year is about learning and fun, NOT nutrition. So just keep trying and ensure he's getting his nutritional needs met by you.

Karri - posted on 02/10/2009

As long as he is healthy, growing and gaining as he should be, and his diaper output is normal, I wouldn't worry about it. He could be teething. He could be feeling under the weather. Or he simply might not be ready.

Six months is the average age for babies to start on solids, but many start earlier and just as many start later. And that is okay. He will start eating when he is ready.

As extra encouragement, when he is ready you might want to mix your cereal or other foods with expressed milk instead of water at first, and slowly start using more water and phasing out the milk. Cereals are pretty bland tasting too, so you might want to start slowly with introducing veggies and fruits if that is what he is used to, mixing in a little at a time and slowly adding more to phase out the cereal. Bananas have a pretty mild flavor and mix well with milk, so that might be a good starting point. Pears may work as well. Avocado and apple come to mind as other possibilities.

Good luck!

Safia - posted on 02/09/2009

Do you mix cereal with water or your milk? My son is not at that stage yet, but I hear sometimes they lose apetite when they are teething?

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2009

he is breastfed and he drinks 4 times in the day and 4 times at night

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2009

Maybe he just isn't ready yet. I wouldn't push it, it'll just make you more frustrated. Wait a few days and try something else. Since breastmilk is sweet, maybe try something sweet like pureed apples or peaches. Also, about the drinking, It's breastmilk right? Does he not take the bottle well? How often are you breastfeeding a day?