9 Mos Old Not Wanting to Eat...

Take the hint from him . . . he just doesn't like the jarred baby food. And I have to agree . . . those Stage 3 foods are pretty gross . . . except for the fruit which my 21 month old daughter always liked. And don't worry about the nutrition issue, because his primary nutrition is still coming from breastmilk/formula.

Does your son have any teeth yet? Try giving him really small pieces of table food, or cook up the really small pasta (such as Orzo or Acini Pepe). More times than not we gave my daughter what we were eating for dinner . . . steak, chicken, peas, carrots, corn, pasta, rice, etc. Also try soft cheeses (american cheese) and deli meats. And real fruit, but go with the softer kind such as bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc. My daughter likes rice with some shredded cheese mixed in it. I also take rice or pasta and put it in a chicken broth with peas and diced carrots and even some small pieces of chicken or turkey.

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My 8 month old started refusing her baby food just this month. She eats regular table food and she feeds herself too.

Here are some of the things we give her:
Mac & cheese
rice
green beans
carrots
sweet pototoes
potatoes
peas
saltine crackers
cheerios
yogurt bites
graham crackers
pears
chunky soup (low sodium, drained)
spaghetti-o's
oatmeal
scrambled eggs
waffles

She gets 16oz of formula and 4oz of juice at school, and I bf at night and on weekends.

My son definitely has his preferences. When he sees me bringing him a food he likes more, he'll spit out what is in his mouth and won't eat any more. When I feed him certain foods, I serve them in courses, least favorite food first. Once he's finished that, then I put the next food on his plate. I save the best for last and don't let him see it beforehand! That is the only way I've come up with to get him to eat all of the foods, not just his favorite.
I also have given him a powdered infant multivitamin since 6 mos, so I don't worry too much about his nutrition.

Neither of my children would eat #3 foods. I think they hated the texture. Also, both of my children went from eating all kinds of baby food and cereals to just a few foods they really liked around a year. I gave them what they wanted as long as it was healthy and didn't worry about it. If they only ate toast, yogurt and bananas for a couple of weeks then that was fine with me. I don't think food should be forced or mealtime should be a struggle. Just offer healthful foods and let him eat what he wants. I sometime offer one bite of a new food on their plate as often as possible and sometimes they never try it and sometimes they finally give in and taste it. Usually they spit it right back out, but occasionally they actually like it. Good luck and just enjoy mealtime with your son.

Cassey,
I do not know if this behavior is 'normal' or not. My first baby had NO problem eating all types of foods when he started eating baby foods, and even when he moved on to regular foods. My baby on the other hand is oddly different. He never really gave me a hard time with the different baby foods, but the more different types of regular food that i try to incorporate (mainly I try to feed him what ever we are eating for dinner), the more picky he becomes. He mainly eats green beans, macarroni and cheese, cheese, and hot dogs, if I am lucky. He is still growing and has lots of energy, therefore I am not to concerned. I hope this helps make you feel a little better!

Fist off, food the first year is just an experiment. He should be getting the bulk of his nutrition from breast milk or formula and not solids. Let him experiment a bit. I have to agree, jarred foods are pretty yucky. There's nothing wrong with breads or green bean either. Try some of the foods Christine suggests.

At 9 months my daughter refused babyfood altogether and only would eat real food or her bottle. I just mashed up the real food well and let her direct the path. By 12 months we were able to ditch the bottle and eat only real food.

As long as he is still getting his recommended amount of BM or formula. He will be fine. Foods at the stage are more for learning than nutrional value.

In my opinion only, it is perfectly normal. Everyone told me once they get that taste of real food with the flavors that it won't be long before they won't eat baby food anymore. I didn't really believe it until it happened to us. After about a month of a little real food mixed with baby food at the daycare, he would shake his head no and clamp his mouth shut when I tried to give him baby food. He took it a little better for the daycare because he was so busy watching the other kids that he didn't pay much attention to what he was eating. When the daycare said he is clamping his mouth shut and won't eat the baby food, I knew we were done. That happened around 10 months or so. Although, I did start buying the little Gerber meals and he loved them and the food is very soft and almost melts in there mouth. That helped us transition to actual table food that I cooked for my husband and myself. Let him eat what he wants in that respect. As he sees you eat foods, he will want them to. Hand in there!

Cassey,

I will have to say my daughter did the same thing but at about 8 mos she just no longer wanted the baby food so I started to give her table food. I do cut it up really well but that is the only way to get her to eat and she only has her front teeth but she does just fine. Good luck but let me tell you she hated green beans in the baby food but loves them now I just cut them up small and she just smashes them with her gums and loves them so much..
Good luck let me know how it goes

If he has teeth give him mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes. He's letting you know that the bought baby foods are no longer dense enough for him. Use box regular rice cereals, green beans, peas, and foods like that having some measure of density but not so much that they must be thoroughly chewed. A little milk in a sippy cup and he's good to go. You're a cautious mom so he will be the variety and nutrition he needs. Be a bit creative with what you serve hubby (tone down any spices) and mash foods for your son. He and you will do just fine.

Yep. Finger foods can be manipulated by little hands. He's at an age where he wants to feel, touch, smell, taste new things. I've had my baby on finger foods since 7 months. She's a healthy 25 pound girl who will be 1 year old tommorow! I breastfed for 11 1/2 months and gave her table food 3 times a day. The doc said until 12 months, it's just for practice anyway. They get all their nutrition from formula/breastmilk.

my little one, who is 10 months next week, was doing the same thing at about 8 1/2 months. when i mentioned it to the pedi at the 9 month check up he said that is not surprising. after i came home from that appointment i looked up my 2 year olds book and sure enoough he had started the same thing around 9 months also. so i guess it is the magic age. i know it makes you worried if they are getting enough food because it seems most of it is on the floor or their shirt. they will let you know when they are hungry, and full for that matter. they can pretty much eat what ever you cook for the family. i usually do lots of fresh (or frozen) fruit and frozen vegies for mine....little peas and carrots or mixed vegie bags from the freezer are easy and great for them. they still get lots of protein from their formula/breast milk, but make sure you get as much vegies or fruit as you can and if it is bread, hopefully whole wheat. if they have never had the "better tasting" (non-whole wheat) then they won't know the difference. i hope this helps you not to worry. eating can be tricky, just wait until he's 1....haha (then he will be to busy to eat at all). good luck!!!!!

Yep, mines doing the same thing right now and letting me know she's full by throwing the rest of the food on the floor. FUN!!!! I don't think it matters baby food or table food as long as he is still getting the meat, veggie, fruit, and grain somehow. I give my 10 mo. old daughter the things we are eating and will kind of squish the tiny pieces of meat to make them a little softer and pop the peas or corn out of their pod and then lay them on her tray. Mine also just started not liking me breaking things into small pieces so that could be next for you. She wants the whole cracker or oatmeal cookie. I let her try it a few days ago and so far so good. They like to be independent and big so fast.