7 Mo Old Won't Eat Solid Foods

I have to agree with Liz. I had a somewhat similar experience with my second child--never had this issue with #1--and I continued to offer the food. She usually refused it, but it was still there. Believe it or not, the thing that got her interested was when I sat down one day to eat a salad. She sat there whining at me and opening her mouth--of course, she had no teeth, so it wasn't like I could give her that exact food. So I found a few pureed foods similar to a salad as well as green pepper sticks to gnaw on. This is what finally started to interest her.

So, I wouldn't worry. Keep offering her good food and showing her examples of how the rest of the world eats and she'll get there--as I so often would remind myself in these difficult situations with my girls: It's not like she is going to be 30 years old and still wanting only formula and breast milk. (My mantra was about potty training and diapers, but the idea works here, too.) :-)

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My second child was similar to what you describe. He wouldn't eat solid food until he was 9 months old. He nursed until he was 11 months old and then one day refused to nurse. She'll become interested in food. Make sure when you are eating dinner, she is sitting at the table with you. Offer her a few cheerios on her tray with some toys and then enjoy your meal.

I used to love watching our kids watch us and mimic opening their mouths and chewing when they were becoming interested in solid foods.

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Let her sit with you and watch YOU eat your meal. Take occasional bites of the baby food yourself and let her see that you enjoy it. Keep offering it to her, but don't force the issue, keep it a fun time. She'll eat solids again when she is ready!

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Until age 1 kids get most of their nutrition from breastmilk or formula. There isn't a huge reason to push solids. When my son wouldn't eat other things he would always open wide for a jar of earth's best soup. They make a huge variety of baby food with different combinations than gerber and beechnut. She may also be ready for some lumpier food try upping the stage food she's eating and try gerber puffs.

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I agree with one of the other mom's. There really isn't a need for her to be really eating solid foods right now. Just to be experimenting and tasting them. She'll get all she needs from nursing and her bottles. However, if she was taking the food before and now is refusing maybe she could be teething? Also there may have been something she ate in the past that gave her a belly ache so now she's not taking any chances and refusing everything. Most importantly, don't force the issue. Just make if available for her to taste if she wants to and if she doesn't no big deal. When she's ready she'll accept it.

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There really isn't a need for the baby to eat anything solid right now. They can drink formula/breast milk for all of their nutrition (until 1). This is just a time to introduce foods, textures, and different tastes. Let her stick her finger in the food and lick her fingers. Taste different things. Don't force the issue and soon things should change. Once she sees more of you eating then she will probably change her mind. Make sure she sits with you at meal times so she can watch you. Good luck, but don't stress about it now.

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Kids can stay on breast milk or formula for a long time. She may have an issue with texture - my son did. Relax and let it go. You can't "convince" a 7 month old of anything. Offer choices by putting things on the high chair tray, but don't force it. Put a bottle, a sippy cup, some Cheerios, and whatever else you have - may 3 choices per meal. THen let it go. My son ate pureed babyfood but none of the Stage 2 or Stage 3 things - hated texture. I figured there's the same amount of nutrition in each regardless of how thoroughly it's pureed. Relax and try again in a few weeks. Formulas are complete for kids up to 1 year of age - and do NOT let anyone tell you there's anything wrong with your kid. They all figure it out eventually. Stress and worry aren't helping either of you. There's nothing in a Cheerio that can't be gained from a high quality formula, and there' snothing in a chunky fruit that can't be gained from a pureed fruit. Take it slow and it will happen when she's ready!

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I would honestly back off. She will eat when she is hungry. If she is getting enough breastmilk and formula she should be just fine (unless the pedi says otherwise.) The last thing you want is for the baby to hate mealtimes. So relax...give her the option, if she refuses just put the spoon down and be done. I know this is hard...but it sounds like it has turned into a power struggle. When she is ready...she'll let you know. I had the hardest time with my third who kept gagging at anything other than mushed baby food. Then one day when he was 13 months old he started doing it...and he quickly caught on and caught up to others his age.

I hope this helps,

H. Z. (SAHM 5, almost 4 and 14 1/2 month old boys)

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do not force baby to eat food let them lead you. all my kids were different when it comes to food. my 7 month old right now ate solids for 1 month now refuses all food no matter what. i still offer it but he refuses he will eventually start eating food again. just go by what they want to do. food is only for practice, they will eat when they feel good and ready to do so. don't force or rush it, they eventually will start eating so much you will want to home grow everything lol.

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My son was the same way, but now at 9 months he is eating everything. Just give her the option of eating solids but don't push it and she should start eating soon. I did notice with my son that he was more interested in trying foods if I let him feed himself, messy as that is. Now he is feeding himself and letting me feed him, which is best of both worlds. Hang in there, the other readers are right that she's fine without solids nutritionally and with plenty of opportunities she will eventually eat.

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Hi L.: I wouldn't force the issue and definitely don't worry about it. At 7 mos, food is still about experimentation. Better to respect that your baby doesn't seem interested. You could stop for a couple of days and then restart and just let your baby take the lead. Good Luck.

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My daughter skipped the baby food stage almost completely she was not interested in even home made baby food...must have been the consistency? We got lost of ripe fruit and those little netted holders that allowed her to suck the fruit and juce (and some veggies) right through the netting so she could not choke. Her favorites were watermelon or peaches. Like I said she started a bit older but was always interested in what we were eating not baby food.

L. C, does your daughter try to grab the spoon when you feed her? The reason I ask is when I started feeding my son that is what he did. I would say no, no and try and put the spoon in his mouth. I read somewhere in a book to let him feed himself. So now that is how he eats - I hold the bowl and the spoon and he puts in his mouth and makes a huge mess!! I always hold the end of the spoon so he does not choke. The worst thing about it is the baby food stains and I am having a very hard time getting it out of anything. Hope this helps. Also, let her practice with an empty spoon and plastic bowl maybe??

Maybe try your own foods with her, like if you are making lunch, dinner, make it a big deal explore your food with her make it sound really good, sometimes the gerber foods are boring.

If she isn't hungry she isn't going to eat. How much breatsmilk/formula is she getting? I say before a bottle of formula try giving her some cheerios or fruit. Milk is very filling to a baby this young still and her tummy is still small. As long as she is growing i say she is doing fine. So will your pediatrician. Just offer food when you eat and she will eventually want some too.

At 7 months, she's still just experimenting. It's really no problem if she isn't interested in solids right now! Let her nurse or have her bottle of formula until she's ready and EAGER for something else. :) Don't stress, and try to avoid making a big deal of meals - you don't want to start THAT trend this early!

Good Luck!