7 Month Old Starting on Solids

When my son was younger I usually mixed his cereal with his milk or with some fruits. Although I never fed him rice, because he broke out when I gave it to him, I used Oatmeal baby cereal. Maybe try a few different things with him. He may not like that particular cereal.

Hi V.,

Have you tried letting him feed himself? I know it can get a bit messy, but I found that with both my children when I did that they were more willing to let me feed them any foods they did not like so much. Also, maybe try giving him the rice once a day instead of twice. Even waiting a week or so, then trying again might help. As he gets used to the rice, then pick back up with twice a day servings.

Another trick I did was to mix the rice in with the breast milk. You can do it in a bottle or in a bowl. Have you tried varying the consistency of the rice? Maybe it's not that your son doesn't like the rice, but rather he doesn't like it too thick or thin??? I remember my son (now 4) would not eat the oatmeal if it was too thin. I had to make it thicker.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

C.

My son did really well when I mixed the rice cereal with a little grape juice or apple juice, he didn't like it plain either. Also, maybe to relieve your stress about him not eating rice cereal, try some other puree baby food options from gerber? He may respond to those a little better as well.

Good luck!!!

I did not read other post so this may be a repeat, but I mixed my sons cereal with breastmilk for the first two months and then started mixing it with water. He doesn't need solids yet, but I understand your frustration. He may not be ready, give it a week or so and try again. Good Luck, he will eat them when he is ready

Don't worry. He does not need solids right now. If he refuses then just stop and try again in 2 weeks if you feel you must. He is getting all he needs from you right now! I love that you said that you couldn't remember from when you had your other children. I thought I was the only one who had that problem! They are all so different, aren't they?

Hey V.,

Maybe try nursing first just to get him satisfied but not upset when you stop and then be all set to give him just a spoonful or two. I found with my 2nd, 3rd and 4th daughters they were always more willing to participate when a sibling was around. I will be cheering for you. Good Luck!

Try mixing the rice with your breast milk instead of the water, or a little juice with the water. My daughter wouldnt eat it unless it ws mixed with apple juice or breast milk. Try it and see, if not he may just not be ready yet. Good luck

Maybe he doesn't like the taste (or lack thereof) of rice. It is really bland. I tried it with my first child but never again. Now when I start solids I give them some mashed banana, sweet potato, applesauce -- something with some flavor! If he's only had breastmilk, he's had the best, most perfect, sweetest food there is. I don't bother too much with the store-bought baby food. If you have a food processor, you can make your own mashed anything. Also, I don't worry about feeding solids for nourishment (since I breastfeed exclusively for at least a year), but I let my baby try things and get used to the taste and texture of foods, rather than worry about how much of it she eats. In other words, just have fun for now!

i have an 11 month old son and i had a hard timne feeding him solids at first too. try try try again is the rule. dont give up it's a new texture and they are just getting used to it.
an idea is that maybe put something sweet in the cereal like applesauce. or mashed bannanas. that's how i got my son to like his cereal i also would put his cereal in a bottle with his formula but since you are nursing him that option is out. so try try again . it's a hassle but rewarding in the end.

He is never going to eat anything if you keep trying until he cries so much that you can't stand it. I remember when I was about 7 years old my Dad decided i was going to eat the squash we had for dinner and i started to cry and the more i cried the madder he got(I know you don't get mad at him) and finally i got a nose bleed and bled all over it and didn't have to eat it. He never tried to get me to eat anything again.

Have you ever given him anything in a spoon before? I can't imagine anyone liking that cereal made with water let alone a baby. Do you make it runny or thick?

I think you better try something else or just forget it for awhile. Maybe you could pump a little milk to mix it with or use some formula (borrow some from a friend if you don't have any).

Being of the old school we started feeding babies at 6 weeks and they would spit it out and we spooned it back in. But we put a little sugar on it!!!! so they liked it they just had no control over their tongue.

If you haven't ever had him in the high chair before try just letting him play with toys in it for a while. Maybe it isn't the food, but he doesn't like to sit there. A baby cookie or cracker might be a start.

Crazy isn't it. Some kids sit in that high chair and open their little mouths and you can't shovel it in fast enough.

Oh, if you use some formula or can pump a bottle, you can buy those special bottles that let you put in some cereal along with the milk, if you think he needs more bulk.

Have fun, love those babies of yours and enjoy these years. They will be gone before you know it.

marciab. Grandma to 11!!

just keep trying...if he really doesn't want the rice, try something else like applesauce, bananas or other fruit flavors, he might like something sweet instead of the bland rice cereal.
when he starts eating the fruits, try the rice again. good luck!

I too have been having difficulty starting my almost 7 month old son on solids. I have actually been fighting this for a couple of months now. He absolutely refuses to open his mouth as well and pushes the spoon away. I will then give up and nurse him. My pediatrician said not to be worried about this and to just keep trying to introduce new things. She said to start him on some finger foods already such as the Gerber crackers and apple wheels. I found them at the store and he really does like them. I worry about him choking though because he doesn't have any teeth yet, but he is actually doing well. I am an RN and work with another RN who has a 1 year old daughter that didn't start solids until she was 9 months old. I didn't have any problems like this with my other three children but I didn't nurse them as long either. Hang in there and keep in touch if you have any breakthroughs. Good luck.