Not Eating Solids

Updated on April 11, 2011
M.J. asks from Saint Paul, MN
14 answers

Did anyone else go through this with their little one's????

I have a 6 1/2 month old girl who hates to eat any solids. She shakes her head as the spoon comes near and screams. She doesn't like any fruits at all and will only seem to open her mouth and eat when I give her peas or green beans. She doesn't like rice cereal either and gags. I have her 6 month appointment this week and am going to talk to her pediatrician but I am so stressed over this. My first child never had this issue and started eating solids at 4 months old and loved it!

Any suggestions?

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your advice. The reason of stress as everyone has asked is because of my pediatrician. She told me to start introducing solids at 4 months and at that time my daughter wasn't ready so she stressed to start again at 6 months and she still doesn't seem to be ready. My pediatrician stated that if she doesn't eat the solids and get the hang of the spoon and tongue that there could be a speech delay and I don't want to do that to my child. So if you would have been told that by your pediatrician you would feel the same way I do.

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M.A.

answers from Chicago on

She's fine. My daughter didn't even eat solids until she was about 8 months old. And my pediatrician told me not to feed her solids before 6 months. Give her time. She won't go to college drinking bottles.

Updated

She's fine. My daughter didn't even eat solids until she was about 8 months old. And my pediatrician told me not to feed her solids before 6 months. Give her time. She won't go to college drinking bottles.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Not every kid is ready for solids at the same time.
My son wasn't comfortable with it till he was almost 12 months.
We like to compare to broad groups to see if our children are developing normally, but it's hard not to compare one child with a sibling and there's a broad range for what passes for normal.
They are different and develop at their own rates which is natural for them.

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J.N.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Wait a few months and try again. At this age, there is no nutritional reason for solids - it's more of a practice time. If it's a fight, then stop. This is one you can't win and it will do more harm than good to force it. Just let it go, and watch for signs of readiness (watching what you eat, trying to grab your spoon, etc)

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P.P.

answers from Chicago on

My kids were never into purred foods. I gave up and started again with small solids they could pick up and feed themselves around 10 months. Their first foods were cheering and peas. It was great, I never had to do that messy job of shoveling food into their mouths, and I never had to buy jarred baby foods.

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T.N.

answers from Albuquerque on

I can understand your stress -- it's always frustrating when we think something should happen and it doesn't -- but please, please please don't worry! Your daughter simply isn't ready. A lot of babies don't want solid food at 4 months or 6 months or even 8 months. Like the PP said, some babies only want to feed themselves. Other babies just need a couple more months in order to handle solid food. And since solid food is only for practice at least until they're a year old, you don't have to worry.

If I were in your shoes, I'd put the baby food and the spoon away for a good 6 weeks. All of your daughter's nutrition is supposed to come from breast milk or formula at this age anyway. Then in 6 weeks, bring the baby food back out and see how she does. If she still hates the spoon, try letting her feed herself.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

Why so stressed? Many parents don't even begin to introduce solids until 6 months or so. If yours was one of theses babies she would be right on time. So long as she nurses or takes her bottles, keep offering and she will get the hang of it.
My younger brother was 14 months old before he successfully ate solids. (not because my mom didnt try, he just didnt like it) He was nursed exclusively until that time. He was an extremely bright, well nurished (chubby), happy child, and is now a successful 29 y/o man.
Your little one will be fine,don't stress, every baby is different, she will get te hang of it!

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

Try sweet potatoes with a little rice cereal mixed in-then the fruits, etc. She'll catch on. And her tastes will change.

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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

My kids did the same thing, turned out they just hated to BE fed. They wanted to do it themselves! SO, at six months old I would just put one piece of food at a time on their tray. One grain of rice, one squashed pea, or one very soft cube of sweet potato - you get the idea. They would pick it up and eat it, and get one more. If you put too much on the tray they just play with it. Even at this early age both my kids could pick up the food and mash it up in their mouth (it was already really soft!). It doesn't really matter if they only eat five pieces of food, food isn't supposed to be a real source of calories at this early age anyway - just a sensory experience. The bigger they get, the more they'll shovel in, and by their first birthday they are competent self feeders! :)

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Have you tasted rice cereal? Bleeech! lol

Right now, primary nutrition is still from formula or BMilk, and any & all eating of solids is about learning, practice and experience.

Don't stress. I promise she won't have a sippy cup of milk at her prom! Good luck!

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

My son was the same way. He had no interest in eating at 6months. I just waited and tried again when her was a couple months older and now he eats everything just fine.

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D.B.

answers from Chicago on

For the first year a baby's sole and primary source of nutrition is breast milk or formula. Puree jar food is just to practice with and doesn't add a significant amount of calories to a baby's diet. Did you know purée jar food was invented back when formula wasn't up to par nutritionally, so they would puree foods to that consistency so that it can be put far back in the baby's mouth and swallowed? Now formula is more well rounded, but we still got it ingrained in our culture to give purees. Babies are meant to start eating when they can pick up/hold their food and chew. I practiced baby led solids, and my daughter (1 today!) is just now eating lots of solids. She has been allowed to eat whatever we eat since she was 6 months but she wasn't really interested until now. So don't worry! Your baby is fine!

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

She's too young to be on solids, especially with a spoon. Her main nutrition should be coming from breast milk or formula not baby food that has minimal vitamins and nutrition.

Giving her a spoonful or two of cereal mixed with formula or breast milk that is very runny is okay but it is NOT meant to replace her nutrition. She must have her formula or breast milk to assure she is getting the amount of vitamins and nutrients she needs to grow and develop her brain.

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J.D.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M..J don't stress yourself out over this because she is still very young and I take she is still drinkling formula. So if she's still doing that and eat peas or green beans don't worry about it. And each sibling is different.

Updated

Hi M..J don't stress yourself out over this because she is still very young and I take she is still drinkling formula. So if she's still doing that and eat peas or green beans don't worry about it. And each sibling is different.

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M.D.

answers from Chicago on

It's hard to learn, but not all kids are alike.
Don't expect them to act like their siblings, you'll just get frustrated.

Slow down on food & just give her what she likes.
I tried food with my 4 month old & he hated it so I stopped for 2 months & then when we recently started again and he loves peas. We have completely skipped cereal, not reason to push it at this age.

Some peds don;t have you try ANY food til 6 months, so you are way ahead anyways!

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