8 Month Old not eating Solid with Spoon

Kerry - posted on 04/03/2011

well praise your baby for his efforts, even though he misses his mouth. And say lovingly, may mommy help you. And i am sure it will work. Bless u.

Mary Renee - posted on 04/03/2011

I second a lot of what people have said here. I took a human and infant development class when I was pregnant with my daughter and I still have the textbook!

According to the book, it says most babies "can" start eating around 4-6 months, but it isn't actually "necessary" for them to be supplementing their diet with solids until around 9-12 months.

I've been at least offering my daughter breakfast lunch and dinner at the same time every day since she was 7 months old. Sometimes she eats a little, sometimes she eats alot, but I think as long as your little one is gettin breastmilk or formula they should be ok nutrition wise.

Also my daughter loves to eat with her fingers. I let her eat wagon wheel pasta with her fingers, teeth on toasted bagels, eat graduate puffs with her fingers, I evne sometimes get these organic children's chicken nuggest that's she's been eating since she was around 8-9 months. First I broke it up in to small pieces, but now she's got her two front teeth.

I wouldn't worry about the nutrition, but if it helps you can start offering her food she can eat with her hands/fingers.

Madiha - posted on 04/02/2011

you guyz are awesome -- Thanks so much for your suggestions :)

Audrey - posted on 03/27/2011

dont worry about it. my daughter was the same way. she was around a year before she finally accepted spoons.lol.

Louise - posted on 03/27/2011

If you are worrid that your child is not eatting properly then add a multi vitamin drop to his juice. ABIDEC is suitable from 3 months so you could use that. But as another lady said at 8 months all the iron your child needs is in formula milk which should still be a big part of his diet. Also iron is found in cucumber so let him have cucumber sticks to hold. Let him play with a spoon so he gets used to it and maybe show him you eatting with a spoon so he can observe what is required of him.

Jenny - posted on 03/26/2011

each child is diffent. try just giving bite size pieces of food on tray or in bowl and a spoon and let him try his self. u will be suprised what they can do by self it is hard to let go of the needing u to feed them but they have to learn. That is the whole process of chilren learning to be indepentant. and yes it sucks but we all have to do it

Belinda - posted on 03/26/2011

Your son is only 8 months old, most of his nutrition should be coming from breast milk and/or formula and maybe vitamins, at this time he is exploring and experimenting with food and textures. Let him feed himself with soft finger foods and allow him to play with the spoon. Offer him different foods from the spoon but don't get upset if he refuses, remember that he is getting iron and other important nutrients from you or formula. If you find it frustrating and worrisome then stop trying to feed him with the spoon for a bit and try again when you think that you can stay calm. forcing him to take something - with a spoon or without - will just make the situation worse.

By the way, what finger foods is he eating that is not giving him nutrients? He can surely have soft (steamed/baked) vegetables that have been cut up etc? there are some great websites out there that have great suggestions on healthy finger foods that don't take long to prepare.

I know it is difficult, but don't stress, have fun with the food he eats and how he eats it.
Good Luck!

Tyrae - posted on 03/26/2011

have you tried letting him play with a spoon without any food on it? or trie dmaking a game out of eating, like the whole "airplane" thing?