My 6 months old son has never been a big eater. He was doing really well eating some solids around dinner time but this week we can't get him to eat anything. We tried peas for the first time which he didn't like at all, and after that he wouldn't take anything. Even his favorites. We tried feeding him when he was hungry and not so hungry and nothing works. He closes his mouth shut tight and put his tongue by his lips so we can't even get the spoon in. Do we just keep trying? Should we start over with cereal? Has anyone else had this problem and what worked?
It sounds like you stopped cereal all together. How long have you been feeding him cereal? I would just stay with that and then try baby food every week or so and see what he thinks. Try the green beans or something. At 6 months I was usually feeding cereal at 8 am and 8 pm and baby food at noon and 4. Along with a bottle at each time. I he's hungry he'll eat it eventually.
Good luck,
J.
He is only 6 months old, at this age solids are only for practice, not nutrition. Keep nursing him on demand and he'll pick up on solids soon enough. Make sure he is involved at mealtime, put him in his high chair near the table where you and your husband eat, and engage him a little. He'll soon want to join in too.
He won't starve, breastmilk or formula is all he needs right now, solids are just a supplement to the liquids he needs to grow and be healthy.
My 8 month old did the same thing around 6 months. She was eating solids then decided she didn't want to eat anything but bottles. I offered her something cereal, fruit, vegies, everyday and she started eating them again after about 2 weeks maybe 3. She still only eats 1-2 solids a day. But I talked to her dr. and they don't need solids until they are over a year. So just keep trying.
It's probably just a phase. We notice that our 3 year old goes through phases where she will eat a TON, and then...,what seems like nothing for a week or 2 at a time. It's like her body is going through a growing stage and either needs alot of food, or very little, to sustain herself. Babies have a natural instinct in stopping eating when they aren't hungry. We adults don't have that. He'll eat when he's hungry so don't worry about it too much...just keep offering a balanced meal.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. At that age eating solids is for practice, not nutrients. As long as he is still taking bottles or the breast and is continuing to gain weight he should be fine.
Dont worrie and keep trying when I was teaching my daughter to eat solids she refuse. it got to th point that I talked to my pa. the best advice he gave me is to try the same thing in the same meal 32 times. It took a few days of the same food but after awhile she started eating. I gusse it just the idea that you have to keep trying.
Hi D.,
You could try to mix some foods in with the cereal. The only way my son would eat the jars of fruit was to mix them in the cereal. I also started both my kids with food off my plate at that age. Maybe he just wants what you are eating. Does he watch you eat?
Don't rule out the possibility of teething either, it's about that time for them to start popping up...both my girls turned anorexic (even with favorites) whenever they were cutting a tooth. Take care, A.
