OK, I was just wondering if anyone else had this happen. My daughter is breastfed. She started eating solids at 6 months and still nursed. She was eating rice cereal mixed with Stage 1 veggies. Now all of a sudden at 7 months she decided that she isn't going to eat solids and will only nurse. We were still doing just rice cereal with veggies. Should I move on to Stage 2 foods? SHould I stop the rice cereal and just give her the veggies alone? What about those foods that have chicken and veggies? I would love to hear what other moms did to move on from this time. I am hoping to get her interested in eating solids again, but not push her to do it. My plan is to continue breastfeeding her even if she starts eating solids again.
It's ok if she's not interested in solids. Just keep presenting them but don't push it...they always come into it in their own time. You can try other foods too - fruits or avocados or other kinds of cereal.
M.
I wouldn't worry about it too much. There is a good chance that she is teething and eating just doesn't feel good right now. At this age (up until at least 12 mos) she should still be getting all the nutrients she needs from nursing and eating solids is really just an exercise to help her get used to textures, flavors, how to move food in her mouth and swallow. It sound like she already knows how to do these things so you're doing great.
I'd let it go for a bit. Nurse as normal or as offten as she needs and still offer food once or twice a day. If she's not interested Id let it go and offer again later. When she feels like it she'll eat solids again, but there's no reason she can't take a few days (or more) off.
For what it's worth none of my kids were interested in solids at all until late. My youngest is almost 10 mos and is only *just* starting to take a few bites a day. She's got the mechanics down no problem but is still not thrilled with it. Luckily this time (unlike the way I felt when my oldest didn't want solids for ages)I'm not stressed about it at all. I know she'll eat when she's ready and she's getting everything she needs from my milk. She's growing like a weed and hitting all her milestones so clearly she's not missing any calories!
Try not to worry. When her gums feel a little less tender she'll probably start gobbling down her favorites like she'd never stopped!
HI L.- my son who is 8.5 months old stopped wanting jarred food altogether. he now eats foods that I make him. One of the problems with stage one food is that its so watery, maybe the stage 2 foods would entice her more, texture and flavor wise. my son wouldnt eat bananas out of a jar, but would eat them if i mashed them up with a fork! If you have the time, making your own food is a lot cheaper too and you can make your own recipes! Hope this helps!
Hi L.. If she isnt eating the stage 1 food anymore its probably her way of telling you that she's ready for thicker food. My 1 yr old still eats the cereal for breakfast and a little before bed so there is no reason to stop it I would just change the food that she's eating
Hey L. -
Definately continue to BF! She needs to get the nutrients somewhere if she is now avoiding solids.
How many days has this been going on?
I would definately try somthing new.... what about fruits? Get those mesh bags on a little stick (at toys r us for babies her age) and put a real piece of watermelon in there, might peak her interest.
I wouldnt go to Stage 2 until she is well established with Stage 1 fruits & veggies... If this isnt successful - by all means - move to Stage 2.... maybe the texture difference will help her. DOnt feed her meats until after 8 mos though! At this point she should be able to have the veggies by themselves.... even at dinner give her a littel veggie with a little rice cereal and a little fruit (seperatly) - the texture difference and taste difference might be good for her.
She could be teething, or another guess I have is that she is bored with the bland flavors of plain veggies with plain rice. My daughter would only eat the dinner stage 2 foods (with chicken or beef) and then the fruit baby foods - the plain veggie ones are pretty icky if you taste them. Plain veggies steamed at home will taste better and you might have more luck, but that takes a lot of time. My daughter loved the mesh fruit holder that another reader mentioned at around that age.
Good luck!
Hello,
When my son was about 7-8 months old, he started refusing solids as well. It turned out that he didn't want to eat from a spoon...he wanted to do it HIMSELF!! So I started giving him cheerios, banana, toast etc on his tray and he ate it happily!!
Hi L.,
My little one stopped eating solids at 6 months (we started at 4 months) and a day or two later he cut his bottom two teeth. After about a week or two of not eating solids, he started again. She may just be teething, but as long as she's nursing, I don't think it's anything to worry about...she'll eat again when she's ready :)
She may be cutting a tooth. I found that my daughter only wanted to nurse/not eat when her teeth were sore. I bought one of those baby mesh feed-bags things and would put in cold pieces of melon or ripe pear and she would gnaw on that and suck the juice out.
Hi L.,
I have a 9 month old daughter, she started eating solids around the same time but was very fussy over what I gave her. For a while all she would eat is stage 1 or 2 peas. We tried both regular and organic baby foods, different brands and she would not eat any of it. I was a little worried so I spoke to her Dr. about it. She suggested I try real food, meaning table food you or I would eat. It ends up she will eat just about anything I put in front of her (especially fruit, and I just learned she loves grilled cheese! Who would of thought...), she just did not like the baby food. Try sharing your dinner with her, you can put it in a blender or food processor to make sure she can gum it. Ask your pediatrition about what other foods may be appropriate.
Good luck! I hope this is helpful :)
K.
mommy of 2 girls, 9months and 3years
My son did the same thing at about 8 months. I exclusively breast fed him until he started on solids(at about 6 months) and I am still breast feeding. He LOVED the rice cereal and most veggies. Then one day he wouldn't eat anything solid. I even tried some fruits thinking he was just bored with the same old stuff. No luck. This went on for a little over a month. I would try little bits of food everyday waiting for him to be interested again. I was very worried that he wasn't getting enough without the solid food but the pediatrician said not to worry and that he would eat solids again when he was ready. She also assured me that he was getting all the nutrients he needed from my breast milk. When he started to eat solids again it was like he never stopped. He is now almost a year old, eating finger food and loving it.
