Starting Solids - Alpine, CA

I wouldn't force it and stick with what he'll eat and stop when he wants to stop...My pediatrician reccommended to give my 8 mo only veggies until she's 1 year! ...I think the big thing is that WE get bored of feeding them the same thing all the time. They should be getting most of their nutrition from formula or breastmilk until 1yr anyways...The whole solids thing is to trian their mouth and tongue to eat solid foods and cereal was initially made for children who were iron deficient...I skipped cereal altogether b/c my baby drinks formula. He is definitely not behind so don't worry! I didn't even give my last 2 babies solids until they were 7 months old and I just dove in with jarred veggies..
Iwrote this rather quickly but i hope it helps! good luck:)

OK so I read that you already received a lot of reponses, and some were a little rude. I know people who started solids at 1 month, so dont think you started him too early. My son is 10 months and still hasnt warmed up to fruit, but I mix a little in with rice cereal and hr loves it, also try the bannana and mixed fruit rice creals he loves those too, I think the taste is more subtle. I started all 3 of my kids on solids at 4 months. Hope this helps.

He's not ready to eat yet. My daughter did the same thing for a month before she was ready to eat. I worried too, but now I wish I had just left her alone!

Give him time, he'll be ready. He's getting enough nutrition from breastmilk. Give him a few days of not feeding him solids, then try again gently. If he still pushes it out, give him another few days. He's normal!

Julie, mom of three in Shadow Hills

Don't worry about it. All children are different and do things at different times. Doesn't mean anything is wrong or that he is behind. You don't have to be so strict about following someone else's guide lines for your child. As long as he is healthy and growing and gaining weight according to his own rate, don't worry if he doesn't follow the text book thier either, he should be fine! You don't even have to start a baby on solids or cereal at 4 months either. With my third, I didn't even start him on cereal till he was 8 months because it was easier to just breast feed him while I had two other small children in diapers. He was not adversly effected by it at all. Other cultures do things different then we do as well and their children do well too. Don't worry about what a text book says or compare your boy to others his age, just let him develop in his own time. If there is anything to be concerned with, your Dr. will notice and that would usually be loss of weight or growth. Just follow his rate of development and work with his timing. You will both be much happier. :)

I have 5 children by the way, 4 boys and one girl from 12 yrs to 3 yrs.
I hope this helps
L.

My advice is to RELAX! Please don't even THINK about forcing food down a 6-month-old! Babies are genetically programmed to be picky about what they swallow, because they haven't yet learned what's okay to eat and what's not. You baby is exploring the textures of each food as well as the tastes, and he will likely reject any new food several times (perhaps many times) before deciding that it's okay to eat. This is NORMAL. Just keep offering a variety of good foods and let him get used to them at his own deliberate, careful pace. The only danger of harm here is harming your relationship with your baby, and his relationship with food, by trying to overpower his will and force food down his poor little gullet.

Give your son a little more time. The start range for solid foods is anywhere from 4 through 6 months. (Unless there are medical issues like cleft pallet and GERD or a family history of food allergies.) In addition children need to learn to enjoy different flavors and textures. Give your son time. Teaching your son to enjoy a range of flavors and textures and have a healthy relationship with food is a long term project. Don't put too much pressure on yourself and don't give up!!

Dear D.,

Don't worry so much. I know, I kknow, THEY always talk about a well balanced diet and making sure blah blah blah. Bear with me, I'm telling you that you are probably doing a great job and its ok to let it go. The fact of the matter is, until we train it otherwise, the body knows what it needs. I never forced food on my little one and she even went through a period where I'd offer her anything other than carrots and she'd refuse. The important thing is simply to offer it. Her carrot craze lasted a week or so and then she was on to the next thing. (That was at about 8 months).

I actually teach nutrition to teens and we make it far more complicated as adults than it needs to be. Think of it this way, there are a number of color categories in the food we eat, Red, purple/blue, orange/ yellow, white/brown, green that is dark, and green that is light, Most of us eat way too much white (potatoes, corn actually counts as white, rice, bread, etc.) If by the end of the week you have had each of the colors twice and then your snacks and such are usually fruits or veggies you are doing REALLY WELL.

Back to your little one, He is still nursing too right? Or at least on a balanced formula? That means right now he is learning to eat for the purpose of learning to eat and supplementing the nutrition you give him. Offer him fruits and veggies. If he only takes the veggies, be glad he is accepting those and know he is getting what he needs.

I also suggest First Meals by Anabel Karmel. Each chapter is a particular age range, (so it will grow with you) she has suggestions about what to think about for nutrition for each age group, and does a great job with offering up recipies that are delectable to the kids and have a mixture of fruits, veggies, grains and colors all in one meal in a way that is fun or appropriate for the age group at hand. PLUS she identifies which meals (especially as they get older) are good for things like, freezing ahead, taking on a picnic, etc. and the recipes usually take 20 minutes or less to make.

My two year old loves fruits and veggies but definitely prefers the fruits. I offer her what I can and by the end of the week if I go over what she has eaten, its usually fairly balanced in terms of being a varied and colorful diet. She recently went through a period where all she wanted for three days were pears (in addition to pancakes with yogurt in the morning - I use yogurt instead of syrup unless I put fresh fruit like berries or peaches on top). Now, she wants strawberries, or oranges, tomorrow it will be green beans. Her body is telling her what she needs and she is listening because I'm not forcing anything on her and this has always been the case. She is healthy, active and happy. Just teach your son to listen to his body (of course this means avoiding sugary foods for as long as possible so they don't get addicted to the sugar), and when she asks for something sugary - like a cookie -I offer something more healthy first - she usually takes it without any argument at all and is completely satisfied.

Just keep up the good work and let your son tell you what he needs by choosing (to the extent he can) what he eats. He won't starve and he is choosing pretty healthy foods anyway if its the veggies he likes. Veggies are some of the most healthy, nourishing, well-packaged foods we eat!

Let me know how it goes!
R.

Most parents do not know that your little ones have thousands and thousands more taste buds that you as an adult do. The food tastes different to them, it is very intense. He is ONLY 6 months...In a lot of other cultures the baby has not even started on food yet. You started early, give it time, by 2 you will be amazed, he will come along at HIS speed not yours.

D.,
He is only 6 months old. In my experience, it's better to wait a little and take the whole solid thing slowly. He is still supposed to be getting the vast majority of his nutrition from breast milk or formula. You are only introducing the solids. Is he a very large baby who needs the extra calories and nutrients from baby food? Stick with cereal of some kind and just give him a little of one veggie or fruit per meal. You can mix it w/ the cereal. It's very exciting to start your child on solids but just remember that it's more important to take things slowly. He'll be throwing food off his tray and onto the floor soon enough. There's such an incredibly wide range of normal for developmental milestones so don't worry yet. Relax and take things a little slower. My favorite book has been Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. It gives SO much info about feeding your child and basic food preparation that it's been invaluable. Here's the Amazon page. Hopefully, it'll work. http://www.amazon.com/Super-Baby-Food-Ruth-Yaron/dp/09652...

Good luck

Our first son didn't have solids until he was 8.5 months old - only breastmilk until then. We didn't give him pureed fruit until later, since it's so sweet, they tend to not go back to the veggies. His first bite of food was a whole banana he fed himself...as we sat there with him.

We also added a little rice cereal to his veggies and he liked that consistency better, not to mention that rice is still a grain and plays with the blood sugar, so the veggies mixed with rice cereal worked great.

My daughter is 7 months now. She went through her not liking the fruits phase, I think it's b/c of the sourness of the fruit at first. When she doesn't like something, I mix the cereal w/breast milk with the food. She does well with that. Then I wean her off from adding the cereal and milk to the fruit. She's doing well with it so far. Good luck!

Starting on solids at 4 months is pretty early. At six months he can usually start cereal with no problem but pay attention to the response. Some people don't even start their babies on solids until 9 months with no ill effects. If your child is having problems with the food, wait a few months and try again. Their digestive system can take a while to develop to handle fruit and veggies. It's early to start worrying about an adult type balanced diet. Just enjoy your new baby and be with him where he is instead of pushing him to a new level too soon.

Dear D.,
Do not worry! Your son is not behind. He probably eats the rice more readily because it is bland and safe. Fruits and veggies are more exotic and can also be a little acidic. When our DD was 6 mos old, we tried her on rice cereal. We tested to see if she pushed the food out of her mouth ( a sign that she was not ready). Well she pushed it out. So we waited a week or two and tried again. Then she took it!
Don't worry yourself. I'm sure your son is doing just fine and is right on track. Also-try mixing a tiny bit of fruit with the rice-"slip it in".
HTH!

Most kids don't like fruits and veges until they are 7 months...so don't despair. If you have tried store bought food with no luck, try making it yourself. I don't know if you have tasted the store bought stuff yourself, but it is nasty! Making it yourself is really easy. Buy a squash, pear, carrot, and frozen peas, steam on the stove or microwave until mooshy, then blend in the blender,... add water or milk for consistency. Freeze in ice cube trays and store in zip lock bags. Trust me, it is easy, better for your child, and will help them to enjoy the way that real fruits and veges taste; for a healthy lifestyle later on.

Good Luck,

Jamie S.

I am having the same problem with my 7 month old. He doesn't even eat cereal or oatmeal. Every bite is forced. He'll chew on bread sticks and that's it.

There is no way a 6 month old can eat a jar of fruit and veggies along with rice cereal. try eliminating the cereal. Fruits and veggies are way healthier than the cereal. The iron is not good for their bodies. It is not fully digestible. instead try liquid iron supplement. It is plant derived instead if synthetic. If he insists, on not eating the fruit/ veggies try stopping for a while, and see how he does in a month.
As for pushing the food out, get use to it! At least he isn't blowing raspberries...Yet.

My doctor actually is having me wait until 6 months to start our baby boy on solids. He explained to me that some babies might have trouble digesting solid foods that early. So perhaps his little tummy is bothering him? Have you consulted your physician? Every child grows at his/her own pace so I wouldn't worry too much about timelines!

HI D.,
I didn't start my baby on solid foods until 6 months, so he is NOT behind. I would say he is ahead of the game. They get all of thier nutrition from the formula, so don't worry about him not getting enough vitamins. Also, be lucky that he likes the veggies more! My daughter prefered fruits and I could hardly get her to eat any veggies at all.(she refused the veggie containers) I finally started to steam and cut up different veggies so she could try eating them herself.(at the age of 9 months) That did the trick! She loves to pick up the food and put them in her mouth. You can start cutting up differnt fruits in tiny little piece (soft fruits only, they LOVE bananas!) He may want to try to feed himself. Bananas are very difficult to pick up, so you might have to feed those to him.
But, if you feel that he is still to young to try to feed himself, don't worry about him not eating to much fruit. It won't kill him. Don't forget he gets all his nutrition from formula (or breast milk). Not to worry!!!!
Take care!

First of all, he's not 'behind' so don't worry about that. My daughter (who is now 19 months) was slow to start w/ the veggies/fruit as well. Have you tried mixing the fruit or veggie in w/ the rice cereal? Also, you could mash just a little banana or avacado & add it to the cereal. Good luck, your little man is doing great!

Most kids don't start solids until 6 months, so don't be impatient.
Every child responds at different speeds (just like adults),so don't worry.
good luck

thats normal when introducing new foods. what i did with my daughter was mix a new fruit or vegie with the rice cereal until she got used to it.

Some doctors don't even recommend starting babies on solids until 6 months so I wouldn't worry about him being behind. My son never really liked baby food much and wouldn't eat it well. He liked food better once it had chunks he could chew and when he could eat it on his own. I was still nursing him so I just let him take it at his own pace and eat what he wanted to eat. It was frustrating but I figured with the nursing that he was getting enough nutrients. He's now two and eats just fine- still picky but he eats enough of a variety that I don't worry too much. He doesn't like many fruits but I just give him the ones he does like frequently and keep offering him the others when I eat them. Sometimes he starts eating something new all of a sudden because he sees Mommy eating it. So be patient and know that some babies are just pickier than others.

Check with your doctor. 4 months is a little early for solids other than the cereal. Fruit such as prunes, pears, applesauce and peaches alone or mixed with the cereal are the first fruits that the doctor usually suggest...one per week to check ability to digest. A new food every 3 to 5 days helps baby to enjoy new textures. You may need to start over, a little at a time like 1/4 to 1/2 a jar per feeding, introducing fruits first and than the veggies like carrots, green beans, peas,squash,sweet potatoes. By 9 months try give him chicken mixed with rice or a veggie. My grandson started to refuse his jar food at 8 months and wanted table food. It is going to be okay. Just be patient.

You didn't mention whether or not you are breastfeeding. If you are, the baby doesnt really need solids at all at 6 months.
If he likes cereal but not fruits and veggies, just feed him cereal for a while. It's not a matter of being "behind", it just about his taste buds; not a developmental issue. Its probably not that he can't eat-he just doesnt like it. After 3 or 4 weeks of just cereal, offer him another vegetable. If he likes it, great. If not, wait, and try again later. Just add one food at a time.
There is no rush to introduce solid foods. If he only likes one thing, just feed him that. Its more about making meal time a pleasant experience right now than how many new foods he can eat.
And a word of advise; dont get too caught up in developmental milestones already at 6 months. Babies are individuals and will develop at their own pace. Love him and enjoy him and relax a little more.

More and more kids are now starting food at six months, so he is not behind. He is still getting his nutritional needs met through breast or bottle, so don't worry. He will get better with the food as he gets older. Plus, babies take up to fifteen feedings of a food before they really like or dislike a food, so that is something to remember. If he won't eat something, don't force it, just try again later...
Good Luck
R.

Please don't force feed your little guy. Somewhat behind? Absolutely not! Do not go by milestone charts. Tune in to your baby and pay attention to what he is telling you. He is telling you that he is way too young for what you are trying to feed him! Babies were not meant to eat solids, they were meant to be fed human milk, or, if that is not possible, formula. It is all they need. Baby food is a modern invention. It is not natural for babies to eat baby food, so give the little guy some time. if he isn't interested now, try again in a month or two. If he isn't interested then, wait another month or two. Your son is trying to tell you that he is not ready for solids. Listen to him. Put down the developmental milestone books and enjoy your son for who he is, a perfectly normal, healthy baby with a first time mom. :0) Your son is an individual who can not and should not be measured by a chart. Enjoy him and relax! Save your stressing for the teen years.

1)My daughter never warmed up to the baby food. She is ten months old now and just prefers bite size food she can feed to herself. Maybe once day she would let us spoonfeed her for a few minutes. I too was overwhelmed reading all the "suggested serving amounts" of all the food groups in various different literature... Forget that stuff, go with what your baby seems to be able to handle at the time.
2) We all survived our babyhood back when there weren't all these rules about every little thing... it's great that we have so many guidelines now about what is best for baby's health and safety, but it makes us forget that people have been doing the mothering thing instinctively and with considerably less resources since the beginning of time. Go with whats working and comfortable for you and your baby. Good luck!

Hi D.,

Have you spoken with your pediatrician? I didn't start my son on any sort of solid until he was 7 months old. 4 months seems quite young to begin. Personally, I would not consider your son behind at all. Just keep introducing foods and let him find the ones he wants to eat for now. Forcing any food is a bad idea. You don't need a power struggle and he doesn't need any bad associations with eating. Children will eat when they are hungry and he will eventually be interested in what you are eating. That's a great opportunity to introduce foods to him. Again, I would speak to your pediatrician and follow their advice.

Best of luck,
B

I would talk to his dr. Every child is different and their is a range. Why did you start his on solids so early?

Hi D.,

I think you are starting solid food too early. Use rice cereals with milk very sparingly. It is my understanding that if you start children too early on fruits and vegetables that they will develop food allergies. Please seek a pediatricians advice about feeding your 6 mo old solids.

I didn't start my children on fruits and veges until they were 1 year old.

Sincerely,
Lee

My little guy is just now 6 months and he doesn't each a lot of variety yet either. He definitely prefers bananas but won't take any veggie as of yet. You may try mixing the fruit or veggie with the rice cereal. My son seems to enjoy the bananas or applesauce mixed with the oatmeal. Since your son already likes the rice cereal, you may try that. Just remember, every kid is different and if you have any real concern for his development you'll want to discuss it with his pediatrician. Each baby develops at a different rate. What baby may be doing, it may take another baby months to accomplish. Hang in there! I'm sure he's just fine!!

D.,

I didn't even start either of my kids on solids until they were 6 months old (not even cereal). I'd recommend you relax, keep offering them and not try to turn it into a power struggle or an unpleasant experience for your son. Six months is very, very young and not every baby is ready to start solids at 4 months and some of them aren't ready at 6 months. My older son didn't really start wanting solids until he was close to 10 months. He's fine. Turns out he just didn't like purees. Once he got to the point that he could stuff real food in his mouth, he started wanting to eat.

:-)T.

Your son may not have been ready for solids at 4 months. I have six month twins. We started cereal at 5 months, just a little each day. Only as they turned 6 months did I slowly introduce veggies (green beans and peas, next carrots, try pureeing them yourself, it's easy). We have not done fruits yet, but will soon. It's a gradual process. Good luck!

I started my daughter on solids at 6 months for fear of allergies which run in my husband's family and I remember her pushing out a lot more food than she seemed to take in for quite a while. She would take mashed avocado, but not applesauce, which I thought would be an easy one for her to like. She also preferred the veggies to fruits, generally. Peas and sweet potato were her favorites.

Don't get too hung up on the "milestones" chart. I'm sure you've heard it before, but all baby's develop at different rates! Keep trying and don't worry too much as long as he's still taking breastmilk or formula. Maybe he just wasn't quite ready for solids.