5-Month Old Refuses Solids

I have a 19 week old son and had him to the pediatrician yesterday. We discussed solids for him and I told her that he really isn't ready for it yet(thrusting reflex) and he doesn't really like it anyway. The Dr. advised me not to continue trying solids daily because my son may learn not to like eating if I try to force it on him. She advised me to try maybe once a week until he seemed to enjoy it.
Just thought I'd pass that along. Good luck!
Guess it will be a few more weeks for me until everyone in my house is sleeping thru the night. Oh well! LOL

Hi M.,

They say it's bad to create "props" that a child will become dependant on later. However, my two year old wouldn't eat w/o a prop and now my 8 month old has the same problem. I say eating is more important than worrying about a prop. You are in charge of your child... and when you want to stop doing the bottle thing - stop. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat - with or w/o the bottle. Hope this helps.

A.

Hi M.,
My son is just about to be 5 months old. He started eating rice cereal a couple of weeks ago, but it was mixed in with his breast milk, or formula in a bottle. We only did this three times a day because he was hungry all of the time. He went from 3, almost 4hrs. between nursings to just around 2. We added in the cereal and he was a much happier baby. Just a week ago we started jarred food. He watched every bite of food my husband and I took. He actually reached out to grab a forkful of food when we were out to dinner. Our pediatrician said that was a sure sign to start of food. I agree whole heartedly with everyone else. When she is ready, she'll let you know. Early or late, every baby gets where they need to be. Just relax, it will come.

Hi M.-

I have an 8 month old who still refuses solids. He gags and spits out anything pureed. The doctor said it was fine and just wait until he is ready, that any type of reflex like the tounge thrust or gag is telling you that thier gut is not ready for anything other than breastmilk or formula. She also said, have you ever seen an 18 year old still drinking breastmilk? When he is ready, he will eat! We now offer table food and he eats a little bit just for the flavors, there is still no nourisment, but there should not be until they are around a year. Remember that EVERY BABY IS DIFFERENT in development, and eating is just another stage of development! So my advice is offer it once in a while, don't stress yourself over her eating (she can pick up on your anxiety) and soon, you will be suprised she is eating everything! One more thought, maybe she wants to be like her older sister and eating table food.

If your baby still has the thrush reflex, she probably is not developmentaly ready for solids. Before starting solids babies should be able to sit up without support, uses the pincher grasp and lost th tongue thrust reflex. Babies do not need solids at this point, they are usually not even recommended until 6 months now. My daughter did not start solids until she was 7-8 months old, and she wanted nothing to do with the jarred, runny stuff. She went straight to soft pieces of whatever we had handy. Peas, banana, ground meat, ect. Frozen peas and blueberries we her absolute favorite!

All 3 of my kids were different, but my youngest was the same way at 5 months. I just stopped trying to give it to him and within a couple weeks he was eating cereal. He just wasn't ready yet. Give her some time... I think if you have to work that hard at it she isn't ready.

Our pediatrician recommended waiting until 6 months, as well. They revised it up from 4 months to 6 months about 3 years ago. He also said that if the baby spit it right back out, he/she wasn't ready and to wait and try again in a couple of weeks. Don't force it.

I definitely do not think she will become dependent but her thrust reflex is a way of letting you know that she is not ready for solids. Don't rush her - they have very little nutrients and calories anyway as compared to breastmilk or formula. Hold off on the solids and try again when she is 6 months or older.

M.,
She'll stop spitting it out soon enough. Have you tried just plain rice cereal? I started both my boys on that because its very bland. At this age they really aren't used to flavors yet. New things aren't usually readily accepted either way. It may take a whole lot of trying before she'll accept foods.

babies do not need solids at five months. why not wait until she's ready. my son didn't start solids until 7 months.

At 5 months, she may still be too young for solids. It used to be recommended that cereal and such start at four months, but new studies are showing closer to six months may even be better. Perhaps try waiting a few more weeks and reintroducing them again. She will let you know when she is ready :)

PS-- Your Marissa is very close in age to my Ariana :)

D.

5 months old is a bit young for solids. The AAP recommends a minimum of 6 mo before starting any cereals or solids, and that they should have lost the thrusting reflex before you start.

M.,

The one good thing to remember is if she is hungry she will eat. Your doctors will tell you that too. I have a 4 1/2 year old and still doesn't eat the way I think she should but she is healthly and a normal weight and eats what she wants when she is hungry. It took me along time to get that one.

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Good luck,
B. sue A.

Thats perfectly normal because she's still very young.Like the pp have stated, 6 months is the general time to begin solids.However, even then she may not be ready yet.My son didn't begin eating solids until 8 months and my daughter at 6 months.If she still wants a bottle then give it to her and occasinally see if she's interested in solids later.Theres plenty of time for her to start solids.Don't try to rush her along because time will fly before you know it.Enjoy your baby while she's still a baby because soon you may be dealing with a crazy teenager,lol!!!

i actually had to thicking the jar food up with a little cereal she seemed to like the thicker texture. maybe try that and see if it works,it did for me.

Hi M., I know that every baby is different, but the normal age to start feeding solids isn't until 6 months anyway. Just give it some time and all will come naturally. My son didn't eat solids until he was over a year old due to a "texture" problem, which we resolved with some techniques showed to us by his Occupational therapist. If by 8 months she will still not eat solids, then I would try to get help. Hope all works out for you!

5 months may be a little early. My daughter started at 6-7 months to eat jar food. Maybe wait a little bit.