My 8 month old is/was doing really well with meals, not too picky and already starting some finger foods, but she goes through these periods of only wanting to breastfeed - and she's in one of those periods now. She'll take 2 bites of food and then cry until I take her out of the high chair and then she'll cry until I nurse her. Of course, she's now nursing ALL the time to get enough calories and I was hoping to ween her in a few months. She'll only take formula from her dad, not from me, so I can't even permanently switch her unless I really battle with her. Anyone ever have this happen? Do you think she's getting enough food being strictly on a breastmilk diet at 8 months? I will continue to offer food, but should I ween her completely just to get her off the breast (I really wanted to nurse until she was 1 year)? Help?
It is very normal for children on solids to go through "food jags", where they will not eat at all,or only eat one kind of food.
Ween, her when you both are ready, she'll be ok. Offer foods at each meal, but if she doesn't want it, do not force her, she will eat when she's hungry!
Breastmilk is the only thing your baby 'needs' for the first year. Solids are only for practice, not nutrition until into the second year. Just continue to offer the solids, but remember that they are not necessary. The very best thing you can do is continue to nurse her. Strive for her to empty your breasts at every feeding, then offer some solids. That way you can be sure she is getting the full range of your milk supply and it will help her hunger patterns stabilize to get ready for mealtimes later in life. You don't want to ger her used to snacking, so offering the breast first will accomplish that and help her get full at mealtime and stretch out the length btwn feedings. Good luck to you and be confident that every time she is at your breast, you are doing the very best thing you can for her!!
~L.
Well, Lacy pretty much covered it all. She's right, your baby gets all the nutrition she needs for the first year from your milk. Any other food is just for practice and helping her learn to feed herself. I thought that maybe she might be getting soo mad is because she's just really hungry. I would try giving her the milk first and then trying to give her some food. Maybe she just doen't have the patience yet to mess with the food, she just wants her little tummy full. So, maybe giving milk first will work better. Hope this helps. Good luck.
It would seem that your daughter is teething. Eating most likely hurts where as nursing is a comfort. If I was you, I would keep nursing her, at least until she is ready.
I agree with the previous posters. I remember thinking that my son would be a picky eater and was afraid that stopping formula would be a horrible experience for both of us. When he was still on formula, he would hardly eat any table foods and go through phases when he would be very selective about babyfoods and what he would and wouldn't eat. I wish I would have know about this board then, because nobody told me that things would probably be easier when he stopped getting formula. He now eats mostly everything we give him and is not very picky. He LOVES pickles! :-)
So, rest assured. Your daughter is getting all the nutrition she needs from you and she will very likely outgrow this phase very soon.
Nicole
I have to agree with the other lady's, she is prob to hungry to deal with solid food, let her nurse then give her the solids.
We don't usually introduce foods to our babies until they are taking it straight off our plates. So, my last four babies have been exclusively breastfed until 8 or 9 months. Yes, she can get enough calories that way.
She could be refusing foods due to food allergy issues, or teething, or ear pain, or just needing extra comfort from Mom during the busy holiday season.
Perhaps you could try nursing her awhile before meal time, and then offering food to her at the meal.
Breastmilk does cover all her nutritionals needs for the first year & actually has things in it (specifically antibodies) foods do not. My daughter was not interested in food much until she was about a year old. My lactation consultant says this can be nature's way of protecting them when they are sensitive to certain foods. Once that sensitivity passes they will be interested in foods. She's very healthy too & has always been in the 90th percentiles. I would just nurse first them wait until she is interested in eating.
Brekka
H., dear
her teeth are growing, and hurt!
Nursing is most wonderful thing ever, keep doing it.
In addition, you might try giving her soft food,
like mashed potatoes, with little butter in them, and milk
or even sour cream, but mash them so that it is like a pudding. This way you can mash very soft any vegetables, or raw or a little boiled or baked fruit, so that she does not need to bite, but just kind of suck her food in. She should like it, as it does not hurt.
Also, if you cook oatmeal porridge, make it simmer long,
so it's very soft, and then take a sieve (the smaller the 'holes' the better, and a spoon.
For all the cases for food now, while her teeth are 'cutting through' and hurt,
use this 'tool', to put the food in the sieve one spoon at a time,
then press the food through with the spoon in the bowl,
and give her to taste, just a little.
If she likes the taste, she'll smile soon and ask for more.
Experiment with different tastes, and give a little first, to check how she reacts. Ti sweeten food, I used honey always, a LITTLE, just to give it an appealing taste. natural is always better, and honey is better than any sugar.
Any kind of porridge works this way: rice, oatmeal, buck-wheat!
I raised three kids like this.
Still, as long as you have milk, keep breastfeeding her, just adding this other food to the 'diet'.
My kids grew up were very healthy, no problems at all.
Happy holidays to you and your dearest ones!!!
M.
