Need Help! Feeding Solids

Raven - posted on 02/03/2010

It could be the spoon instead of the food. My son did this for awhile, thought it was the food, he was actually gagging on the spoon, he refused teething rings and pacifiers, and I had to buy small flat nipples for his bottles to keep him from gagging. I started him in on putting stuff in his mouth by putting his food on my finger tips and gently putting it in just inside his lip or on his gums. He got use to putting food in his mouth and now feeding isn't an issue. I still give my little guy a bottle from time to time, it is just easier early in the morning and at night, with foods his doesn't like I mix it with water and oatmeal in his bottle and he eats it like anything else. Fruits are MUCH easier as a start and I am an advocate of AVACADO, pumpkins and bananna's, also try warming it up a little bit, no warmer than formula. give her a something to keep her attention on her tray. I put rice rusks on his tray to keep him focused whie I feed him. I have a precious planet chair and it has a few toys that you can attach to the tray.

Also stay calm, if you get frustrated feeding her, she is going to get frustrated and shut down on getting fed.

Sheree - posted on 01/29/2010

Are you just feeding her things from a jar/can or are you making the food?
That jar stuff is vile to me and I would never eat it myself so i have never fed it to my 7.5 month old daughter. I make everything fresh for her.
Usually our little girl has what we are having for dinner, in the last fortnight, things i can remember that we have had are, apricot chicken, roast with roast veg, pork on the bbq, lamb loin chops and veg, meatloaf and chicken fettuccine. She loves it all.
For breakfast she usually has:
farex, weet bix, toast or scrambled eggs
Lunch is fruit:
kiwi fruit, water melon, rock melon, apples, pears, banana, nectrines, oranges, mangos and avacados.
Dinner veg include:
sweet potato, potatoe, pumpkin, squash, beans, peas, spinach, broccoli, cauilflower, chokos, zucchini and carrots.
I only puree (magic bullet) the meats and apples and pears as she doesnt like them cooked (apple and pears, I do cook her meat lol.) The rest i just mash with either a fork or potato masher.
As snack she also has apple pieces to chew on, carrot sticks, yoghurt and biscuits.
hope that helps a bit.

Melissa - posted on 02/06/2010

Get some veggies/fruits that you can steam well (so they are really soft), then cool and cut them into little squares. Let her feed herself like she does the puffs and yogurt bites.

Carmen - posted on 02/04/2010

When you guys are giving your little ones food from your plate do you cook with much salt or just spices? I am so nervous about too much salt or sugar. We gave my son some homemade tomato soup but we used one can of tomato juice and one can water and added spices(nothing hot) and veggies. I know the tomato juice has alot of sodium in it. He loved it of course. He didn't get alot but just curious what spices everyone is using and if you use a little salt.

Eleisha - posted on 02/03/2010

Cindy, just give it a go. Baby's have the most amazing gag reflex, and if they can't handle it they will just bring it back up. Obviously don't try anything too hard just yet. It is really difficult for a baby to truly "choke". They more just gag to bring it back up. My daughter likes zucchini sticks, sweet potato sticks and carrots sticks that have been roasted and she just eats those. I also blanch some broccoli florets for her too (these are all finger foods). Bananas are great, as they are really soft. Next evening meal you have your LO a go at that too. Have a look at Baby Led Weaning on the net. It gives really good info into this sort of info. We are following BLW for the most part of my daughters solids experience.

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I think if I did that my son would be more interested in eating too. I'm just afraid he'll choke on the thicker consistency. How do you think I should judge whether he can handle it? I'm probably just being an overanxious mama.

Lena - posted on 02/01/2010

Thanks guys! I have figured it out, she really does hate the jar stuff. Only sweet stuff. She now eats whatever we are eating and she loves it!

Eleisha - posted on 01/30/2010

I am with Sheree, jar stuff is gross. I have a rule;if I wouldn't eat it, then I won't feed it to my daughter. She never has jar stuff i make everything fresh. I won't list what she eats, as it is very similar to what Sheree's daughter eats. (Basically anything). I barely cook her "baby food" any more as she just eats what I eat.

Lauralea - posted on 01/30/2010

Maybe she wants to feed herself. My sisters son won't let her feed him at all now that he can eat finger foods. Try a sweet potato microwaved with the skin on. After it is cooked cut it into fry like lengths and freeze the ones you don't use on a plate, then transfer to a ziploc for easy use. We also do graham crackers, cheerios, rice Mum Mum's, banana chunks, pear chunks, etc... Good luck!

Emma - posted on 01/30/2010

Try with some home cooked potatoes. Give it a try. If she takes it then you know that you are going to have to give her home made fresh foods. Some babies just don't like the jar food at all. And by you saying that she will eat the yogurt melts etc tells me that she is interested in solids, just not baby food. Although my son doesn't throw a tantrum at everything I offer him, there are some foods that immediately upset his tummy. And then he will lean over, and try to escape his meal.

Cristy - posted on 01/30/2010

Also, don't stress, she's not going to starve. All kids get into solids at their own pace.

Cristy - posted on 01/30/2010

Let her feed herself. Start with stuff like ripe pears, banana, slices of avocado, toast. Many babies prefer to feed themselves.

Hannah - posted on 01/29/2010

try giving her something really sweet- peaches, pears, and sweet potatoes are a good place to start. Don't mix them with anything- just give it to her straight.