My 9-Month Old Isn't Interested in Eating Food. He Just Wants Bottle.

There's no need to push table food. It was only during WWII that babies were started on table food as young as 6 months (and it was because mums couldn't bring their babies into the factories with them... and formulas were just that formulas/recipes printed in magazines and newspapers of oils and things to mix together for the older kids and grandparents to feed the babies while moms were working.) Prior to WWII most women nursed exclusively until over 1 year old (first birthday cake was often the first table food they had), and continued to nurse until age 2.

In our family, we follow the old model as far as no tablefood beyond "tasting" until a year. Kind of common sense... it avoids the whole digestive problems that plague modern parents at right around 6mo (when they start table food)... gas, colic, constipation, major changes (for the worse) in sleep schedules. Then we do the "explore the world through food" from 1-2ish, getting in as many flavors as possible, and bypassing bland/boring baby/toddler food entirely.

There are ALWAYS babies whose digestive systems are ready early (just like there are early walkers, talkers, etc)... but most aren't. LOL... I knew a 6month old who was walking. Most don't. So if he skips table food except for occasionally for the next few months... don't sweat it.

ALSO when babies are sick (actually when humans are sick) our digestive systems shut down (so our bodies can shunt the energy to our immune systems instead). For adults, we just don't eat. Babies are growing so much though, that they still need to. Hence why so many revert back to 100% milk or formula for a few weeks when they're ill. After those few weeks... Voila. Adventuresome Eater Returneth.

I agree with Riley J and just wanted to say, don't sweat it. His primary source of nutrition now is breastmilk or formula. My son is almost 9 months and we just gave him his first pea sized taste of food (avocado). Then he just played with it, but showed no interest in putting his fingers in his mouth.

I may offer more tomorrow, probably not because I hate the mess! :) Food at this stage is for exploration. We don't even spoon feed our kids til they are much older and relying on food for nutrition.

He may be teething, not feeling well, just not interested. Food should be seen more as an educational tool right now than a source of nourishment.

Make sure mealtimes are all about fun. No sense in causing any food issues at this point. he's got plenty of years ahead of him for that! :)

He's also eating for comfort at this point and the bottle is comfort, whereas solid foods aren't.

You could try giving him some cheerios on his tray to distract him, and in between bites of cheerios feed him baby food with a spoon. That works for some when they get to the age when they want to feed themselves, but can't do it yet.

My daughter did this at 9 months. After some experimenting, I found that she wanted what I was eating. She never ate the baby food again, but only ate whatever I was eating (cut really small, of course)!

My daughter did that at around 8 months of age, including loving her bottle and only eating at restaurants...I started to wonder if it was ME. I am not an expert, just along for this ride as you are, but I have been told that it is perfectly normal for babies to go through times they simply won't eat for days and even weeks, that when their bodies need more, they will resume eating more. True to that advice, my daughter resumed her normal eating after a few weeks, maybe 4 weeks even. She is 9.5 months old and back to eating everything in sight. Good luck! I bet it will pass.

Stop making an issue out of it or it will become a power struggle. HE will eat when he's hungry and at this age he hasn't learned to ignore his body's hunger signals. It'll be a few years before he learns to ignore his body. It's a lesson most of us teach our kids, unfortunately. Set out food options and don't force it. After the meal, simply pick them up and put them away.

yup...stop making an issue...will only lead to problems down the road:)
Just keep sitting him in high chair to offer and it is up to him right now....make it fun.
IT could be boredom with food, teething etc.
Make it fun and do not be upset if he throws it to dogs or does not eat.