Hardly eating solids :S help!

Melanie - posted on 09/16/2010

My 8 1/2 months doesnt eat food in the jar only homemade food. I have found that he wanted to eat off my fork so I went out and brought his own set and we have no problems now. He also sits at the table with us. I give him juice at meals and he has his milk for bed...He has about 3 to 4 bottles of 9oz milk a day...

Amy - posted on 09/15/2010

But why? It's amazing that baby knows best, even now! (about what and how much to eat) My 8-mo-old still doesn't eat solids, but he's a chunky breast monkey! Granted, his chemo makes food taste awful to him, but I don't care to have him eat solids until he can't stand not to. There's nothing special about food compared to breast milk at this point, other than it makes stinky diaps and big table messes. That being said, maybe she wants to feed herself. Breast feed her before meals, then let her sit with you while you eat and she can play with small bits of food.

Sarah - posted on 09/12/2010

my daughter doesn't like jar food, but begs mommy, daddy, and sissy (14) to share everything we eat. she gags herself on water, but does well with most actual solid foods. babies are smarter than we give them credit for. last night we had pot pies for the first time in months. i know she has never seen us eat them. but as soon as i took them out of the oven she started begging for a bite! she wants to be included in family meal time and is insulted when we try to give her jar food instead. i can occasionally get her to eat baby foods between the "big people's" meals, or if its just the 2 of us and she doesn't like what i'm having. but she still nurses just as much. i wouldn't be too worried.

Adria - posted on 09/12/2010

Water down the solids more so they have a consistency more like milk, or mix breast milk or formula in them. Also, totally agreed with giving the solids first.

Elina - posted on 09/12/2010

Up until 12 months old, infants are supposed to receive most of their nutrition from breastmilk, so don't worry. If she is getting enough breatmilk and gaining weight well - she's ok. Babies know what they need, so as long as she's healthy - go with the flow. They also have smaller tummies, so if she nursed before eating - she may get full really fast. You could try to let her get a little hungry before givingher solids (I know it sounds like torturing, but if she nurses very often, you may need to let her go for a longer stretch so she is not as full).

Jenny - posted on 09/11/2010

Don't wait until she's super hungry to offer her solids or she'll just cry for breast milk. Offer her solids 1-2 hours after she eats, all the time, and she'll start naturally eating more and drinking less. Water in a sippy cup with her food is good as well, it lets her know "not everything tastes like BM". I feed my 8 month old strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, broccoli, sweet potato, carrots, squash, chicken, turkey and I've started a while milk yogurt. I usually mince/dice everything and make it into a baby mush. I add a few different varieties every time depending what meal it is. When you find something she likes, introduce that with something new. Good Luck!

Sharon - posted on 09/11/2010

Don't fuss about it. my 8m old eats some times and not other, were as my older boy at 8 monthsa practically ate more than he nursed all the time. My older son demanded a fuller diet then my younger son has needed so far so even though my second is still about as big as the first was at this piont. They all go though stages differently. My older didn't start a lot of self feeding until closer to a year, my youngest eats more if he self feeds. Just let them eat thier way for now and untill you getting ready to stop nurseing don't worry how much they do or don't eat. Honestly even after you do stop nursing, always remember kids eat when they are hungery, they might not eat a perfect 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, some days you might be lucky to get 1 full meal in them, as long as you offer it and offer a veriaty

Brooke - posted on 09/10/2010

READ "BABY LED WEANING"...SHE'LL TELL YOU WHEN SHE'S READY! :-) DONT WORRY!

Em - posted on 09/09/2010

i would defo try feeding solids first and see how you go... but just a thought, is she teething and maybe a little worried bout food on the gums? You could try thinning down food with a bit of milk so theres a familiar taste there too.

Michelle - posted on 09/09/2010

We have our sons highchair right at the table so i think he feels part of our meal. I also make his babyfood. He does not like the store bought jared stuff. I just cook veggies and mash them up. Place them in ice cube trays to freeze. When we eat i just pop one or two out and meal is served. More texture and better taste than jared. Good Luck!

Liz - posted on 09/08/2010

I'm not sure where you live, but the Australian Breastfeeding Association have recently published guidelines on 'Baby led solids' which has been really successful with my 8 month old son who refused to eat! It promotes giving baby lots of finger food, rather than typical baby mush and having then sit up at the family dinner table as often as possible. The idea is the baby will play with the food, make a big mess and eat as much or as little as they want.....all in their own time.it also says that breast milk should still be the main nutritional intake up to the age of one year (as someone else mentioned on here). 'Baby led solids' has worked really well for us, and has taken the pressure off having to play all those 'here comes the aeroplane' games! Good luck!

Misty - posted on 09/06/2010

Unless you are trying to wean from breastmilk, solids are just for fun until the baby is a year old. Breastmilk should still be her primary source of nutrition until 1 year old.

Kim - posted on 09/05/2010

i'd say try giving her before solids before nursing (if you're not already doing so). My LO wouldn't take milk & solids together but is now taking less milk during her midday feed. Also try more finger foods, Caitlin hates baby food / mashed up food.....she wants to eat whatever i eat!

Melissa - posted on 09/03/2010

Have you tried giving her foods she can give herself? My daughter loves popcorn twist, scrambled egg yolk, and fruit puffs. My daughter started eating foods very running, have you tried this? Or maybe its to runny, try thicking it.

Shannon - posted on 09/03/2010

Are you offering solids before nursing???? I have read to offer breast/bottle 1st then solids but I think once @ this age (my LO is also 8mths) you can start to offer solid prior to breast/bottle. I have just started doing this with lunch & dinner meals. My daughter also goes off her food one week then eats everything I offer the next. I just try to follow her cues, patience helps too. Hope this helps :)