8 Month Old Not Eating Solids!!

My son is 9 months old, and as for food he can take it or leave it. I offer it 3 times a day and sometimes I can only get 2 spoonfuls in him. I found that he liked adult food like bits of grilled chicken and turkey better at first, but now he could care less about those. My doctor said as long as he's growing well not to obsess over it.

Try to feed her the solids before she nurses or way after so she is actually hungry for something. Good luck, i feel with kids once u think u have things figured out, everything changes!!

Buy many different sweet babyfood in the smallest jars that you can get and let her taste a little of each one of them. You must never pressure her into any solid food that she doesn't want to eat which will be futher discouraging her from eating solids. Start with baby banana or strawberry milk shake which is not mushy but thicker than milk as a way to prep her for future solid eating. It is just a personal opinion. Check with your pediatric dietician for professional advice about training baby to eat baby solid food.

Hi C.,

I wouldn't worry about this. Babies don't need anything but breastmilk their entire first year. She will eat when she's ready. Meanwhile, don't supplement...let your body provide your baby with what she needs. You've done it so far and you can continue!! Make sure you are including her in mealtime...sitting at the table with the family, but if she chooses not to eat, that's ok. The socialization is important too.

D.

Hi C., its normal for babies not to take a liking to solids- it doesnt provide the comfort of nursing, its harder and tastes weird compared to anything they have eaten yet!! Since she seems to be happy and full, theres no need to supplement.. breastmilk is giving her enough nutrition. Plus supplementing will only further discourage her to eat!

A couple of things I would suggest (I have a 9 month old and it worked with her), give her solids when she is not extremely hungry... generally half way between 2 feeds.. Also try feeding her at the same time each day, it will create a routine and soon she will expect it. Don't go nuts on how much she is eating, instead try and see if she eats more over a period of time.

I didn't start my daughter on cereal when introducing solids. Instead I gave her boiled-mashed fruits and vegetables... after 3 months of giving her solids, has she taken a liking for cereal! Another trick that works is try expressing your milk and mixing it in the food you give her. This creates a familiarity in taste, so babies are more likely to take to it.

Finally, I am not sure if you are giving her home made food or baby jar food. It its the later, try changing the brand, she might not like what you are giving her. I have been giving my daughter only home made stuff- she loves it and its quick & fun for me.. not to mention much cheaper... write to me if you would like any quick recipes.

Please don't fret about her eating.. she is growing fine and seems like an adorable little thing! You have nothing to worry about :)

Good luck! :-)

She's ok, every kid has different tastes. My son did not really like solids until he was 15 months! He would eat cheerios and some crackers, but not table food cut up small. Not even pastina or mashed potatoes. I kept giving him his baby food, cereal and yogurt and would just offer a little of what we were eating until eventually he took it. He was not completely off baby food until almost 17 mo. You say she's growing and doing all she should be, so you're right, relax and enjoy!

Supplementing formula wouldn't help anything. Unless you want to stop nursing, I wouldn't do that. My 9mo just starting eating solids now that we have his reflux under control and his tummy's feeling better. Before now, he would refuse all solids and cry as soon as he saw the spoon near him. The pediatrician said to just keep offering them and working on it now that he's feeling better. As long as she's not refusing them because she has a problem like reflux, there's not much more you can do. Babies know what their bodies need. She'll eat more when she's ready.

Your baby is right! She knows what she needs! For the entire first year, breastmilk should be the main source of nutrition, with solids to compliment. Most breastfed babies, when left to self feed, will begin to show a true interest in the 10th month. She is gaining, and reaching milestones. No need to push the solids. Let her try them, taste, and play, but follow her lead. You seem to know your instincs well, just trust them!