9 Month Old Not Eating Cereal

Hi, my son now 9 months old has never really had cereal. He was very consitpated from it. So we just went right to stage 1 foods @ 5 months. He is now on stage 2 and some table foods. He is a whopping 22 lbs!!! The Dr told me that its not a big deal if he never ever ate cereal. As far as juice goes. The limit is about 4 oz per day....diluted.
Good luck :)

My son is almost 9 months old, and he went off cereal about 2 weeks ago. He used to love it, but now he wants nothing to do with it. He likes real food as well. Although he loved the stage 1 foods, he's not that crazy about the stage 2's. He'd rather eat what we're eating. I've been told that babies grow out of the cereal and baby food, which is a good thing b/c it shows they are ready for the next stage.

J.-
No where is it written that a baby MUST have cereal. My daughter never had cereal. She was exclusively breastfed until six months and then went right to table food. I'm doing the same with my son who is almost 8 months. Initially I mash up bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes, squash. The less "mashable" things, I'd just throw in the food processor. I'm sure I saved (and am saving) a fortune! Check out the book "Whole Foods For Babies & Toddlers" Good luck.

If she doesnt want the cereal then dont make her eat it... babies choice of food change. My son wouldnt even eat baby food when he was 7 months old.... he ate it for about a month and got sick of it so i had to feed him mash potatoes and other things until he was all on finger foods!!! be happy you didnt have to go through that! I started my son on Milk when he was 11 months and he was fine.... you have to start by mixing the formula and the milk a few times before you give her straight milk because her stomach might not be able to handle it. As for the juice there isnt a limit.... just make sure you dilute it with water

I pretty much stoped with cereal when ever the kids stopped. My sone is 8 months old and eats cherios now. He loves them but can't stand the baby cereal so we don't bother with it.

By the way, my almost 3 year old daughter's name is Aaralyn! (only one n). I've never seen anyone else with that name.

Hi J.! I'm A.. My son is a little older than your daughter by a few months, but I remember that when he got to around 9 months I started him on table food. So in my opinion, I wouldn't worry about your daughter not eating cereal. What she likes may change over time and she may not like it anymore. That cereal is kinda plain so she may be wanting more flavorful! Juice is good, my pedi said only 4oz a day; if you want you can water it down, but you don't have to. As for the milk you should wait till closer to 1 year. Some start earlier some start later that's up to you, but the doc will prolly recommend waiting till 1 year. Hope that helps!

My son had the same problem I since then have started giving him Cream of Wheat along with baby vitamins mixed in it.

My child actually always hated cereal or oatmeal. I just gave her whatever we ate mashed up or in a blender. It depends what it is. A lot of people hold of milk until one because it's easier for them to develop milk allergies and have trouble digesting it before one. With juice, the only thing you really have to worry about is the amount of sugar in most of the juices that might make them a little hyper.

Cereal...If she doesn't want it, then my thought is don't force it. A lot of the reading I've done recently suggests not to rely so much if at all on cereal, as it may not be digested well and is mostly empty calories. If she is still breastfeeding, then you may need to consider another source of iron for her. Formula already has it. SHe is interested in other food, so let her have it. She should still be getting the majority of her nutrients from breastmilk/formula. For more reading, try www.westonaprice.org, www.lalecheleague.org, www.kellymom.com, and search for starting solids or something like that. All 3 websites talk a lot about breastfeeding, but are great resources for introducing foods too.

juice...It is great that she will drink from a sippy cup and drink juice but it can be loaded with sugar. I just heard this morning on one of the morning shows to limit juice to 4-8 oz/day for kids under a year. Try diluting it by at least half with water or just giving her water.

milk...They say to wait until after the kids turn one to start on cow's milk. Alone it doesn't have enough nutrients, which is why they need formula/breastmilk. Also there is an increased risk of allergies before 1 year of age. My thoughts are instead of using the magic age of 1, let her diet dictate when you switch. When the majority of nutrients are coming from solid food, and only some from breastmilk/formula, then slowly switch to milk.

These are my thoughts. Happy reading and good luck with your daughter:-)

J.

Some breastfed kids need extra iron at this point, some don't. Iron in breastmilk is lower than other sources, but it is all absorbable by the body. Artificial iron sources, like fortified cereal or formula or vitamin drops, are not as absorbable (and can actually make it harder to absorb the good stuff). Iron from other foods which is naturally occuring, like meat or green or orange veggies, is in between.

A lot of people do well skipping the baby food altogether and starting their kids on appropriate "adult" foods. Cooked chopped veggies, small pieces of fruit, meat, beans, etc. It's good practice for them to explore textures with their mouths and their hands. :)

If you had or will have a 9 mo doctors visit, they will probably ask to do an iron check. If you feel she may be low in iron, the test may be a good idea.

My daughter was about 22 months when she had cows milk, and only drinks a sip or two a day. There is no age when our kids turn into baby cows and need the milk of another species. ;)

HI J. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND THEY ALL WERE ON TABLE FOOD AROUND 9 MONTHS. THEY GREW NOT TO LIKE THE BABY FOOD . MY CHILDREN ALL WENT OFF FORMULA AROUND 9-10 MONTHS. THE DOC SAYS UNTIL THEY ARE A YEAR OLD BUT ALL MY KIDS ARE FINE. I THINK KIDS TELL YOU WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR SOMETHING NEW. I THINK HER NOT WANTING CEREAL IS A SIGN TO FEED HER CHEERIOS. KIDS LOVE THOSE BECAUSE THEY CAN EASILY FEED THEMSELVES. GOOD LUCK STEPH

If she won't eat cereal, it's not a biggie. As long as she eats other foods.
In the Juice dept. the ped. will tell you no more then 4oz per day. Also they tell you to dillute it with water. My son is 21 months and I still dillute his.
You should wait until she in 1 before starting her on regular milk. Her system isn't mature enough for it, and it could cause allergies. And when you do introduce her to whole milk you should do it in small ammounts. 1-2 oz at a time.

My kids both ate cereal when I first introduced it, but after I introduced all the fruits and veggies they no longer wanted to eat the cereal. Sometimes I would mix a little in to their fruit. At 9 months old though, I don't think it's a big deal if she's no longer eating the cereal. As long as she is eating a healthy variety of foods, that's all that matters. As for the juice, I would only give her a few ounces a day. Try giving her water in a sippy cup, it's never too early for them to develop a habit of drinking water. As for the milk, wait until she turns one.

Hi J.,
As i'm sure you have figured out by now, many babies start to dislike cereal about 8-9 months (some never like it). The reason doctors like us to give it to them is that it's high in iron and iron is important for many things including brain stuff (i used to know exactly what it was when my son was little, but i think the actual facts dropped out of my brain when i got pregant with my daughter ;-)) If your daughter is having enough formula it shouldn't be a problem i believe they told me that should be between 20 and 30 ounces a day (however all babies are different, my daughter will only have about 15oz per day) once of the best ways to sneak cereal into the diet is to get rice cereal and mix it with the jarred baby food. it's especially great for stage 1 and 2 (it stops it from being so drippy and it makes it to the mouth instead of the shirt) start with a small amount to see if she notices and add more if she seems ok with it. you will probably be getting an iron check at the 9 month visit, so i wouldn't worry too much. i believe that babies under 1 year need 11mg of iron per day, you should be able to figure out how much she is getting from her formula can. as far as solid foods, if she likes it then give it to her (as long as it isn't one of the allergen types) give her a jar of baby food and some solids at the same meal if you are concerned about her getting the right amount of nutrition. hope this helps!

If she doesnt want the cereal, just dont give it to her. Maybe switch to crm of wheat or brown rice mushed up.I think it is wonderful that she drinks out of a cup, but limit her juice to like 4oz a day. She should still be on formula, and she may have her water. I agree to give her more table food that the family is eating, and let her explore. Let her try and feed herself in addition to you feeding her too.Wait till she is one to give her milk.

Hi J., My name is L. and I have a 10 month old. My son wasn't to big on the cereal either. He never did like the rice, oatmel and mixed grains he would only eat if I mixed it with applesause or other pureed fruit. You could try giving more adult food with the baby and they can never get enough juice. My son will drink about 4 (8oz) a day. Also he loves milk. Start with 2% first. It's easier to digest. The Dr's tell you not to give them milk but my son is in perfect health and has had no problems. He has been on solids since he was 3 months and milk since he was 6 months. I hope this helps a little.

J.,
Have you tried mixing in fruits with her cereal? That's the only way my daughter will eat it. My daughter's Dr says 6 oz of juice a day and no milk till they're 1 but it's all up to you. My daughter is almost 11 months and doesn't really eat much table food yet mainly because she only has one tooth but I give her as much grown up food and I can.

If your daughter is formula fed, the cereal isn't as big of a deal as most formula has iron in it. If you breastfeed, you need to find an iron source or maybe try making the cereal more interesting by mixing with fruit.

I made much of my little ones' babyfoods so I transitioned them to many table foods early. You just don't want to add extra salt & sugars to them.

My ped always recommended no more than 4 ounces. We pretty much still stick to that rule even at 2 & 3 years. We so water it down a bit too. We don't allow more than 1 drink of juice a day. It's full of sugars, but doesn't have the fiber and such that fruit itself has. It's better to give her actual fruit over juice. We always started with sippies of water for meals and had them available when playing - in between nursings and meals. Mine are good water drinkers now.

Hold off on milk until she is 1 year old. Its great that she will drink from a sippy cup! Limit juice - and always water it down. I don't see anything wrong with making a cup of water available to her while playing, as L. as she is still eating and drinking her formula.

if she wont eat baby cereal then try giving her regular cereal like cherrios she will like picking them up with her fingers my kids did same thing they got the taste of grown up food and didn't like certain baby foods anymore give her cereals that are not sugary like cherrios anything she can pick up herself

Most suggest only 4oz of juice a day, for various reasons. My kids tend to have a bit more then that, though I'm trying to cut them back!

As for the cereal... Both of my kids were breastfed. Then a little cereal with the breastmilk. Soon after I started them on jarred food. Once they discovered the flavors and textures of the food they wanted nothing to do with the cereal! And once they discovered chunked table food they wanted nothing to do with baby food!!

So I say don't push the cereal, just pick healthy choices for table food!!

4 oz of juic is what our ped. told us on monday. if i wanna give more then do 2oz of juice then 2oz water. that way he can have it 2 times a a day. it's really high in sugar. my son was born 5-5-06. we are going threw some of the same things right now.