Eight Month Old Refuses to Eat

Hi J.,

It could definitely be because he is teething. I have talked with lactation consultants about this, and as long as he is still breastfeeding, he is getting all the nutrition he needs up until the age of at least one year old. The solid food you feed him at this age is really just for practice and doesn't get digested very well, so don't worry too much. Just keep offering him the solids and make sure he is nursing at least 5 times a day and he'll be back to eating solids in no time, I'm sure!

J.- trust me, he will eat if he is hungry. He may just be getting more than you realize when he is breast feeding. He may just prefer to lay back and feed while cuddling verses sitting up and actually working at it also. But you really should not worry if he looks healthy and acts healthy. It is just a stage and there will be many. But never the less if he is hungry he will eat. He could alo just have a hard time adjusting to textures of foods since his teeth have not come in yet and he has not had the urge to chew. Feed him what he will eat and if you notice change in his health then take him to his doctor. You are doing fine.

Is he drooling alot? If he is, then he very well may be teething. It might be that his stomach is filling up with drool (gross, huh), therefore causing his body to tell him that he is full. Excessive drooling may also cause really runny stool. Not quite diarrhea like, but not solid, either. If he continues to not want to eat and you see it as a problem, try getting him to drink pedialyte to at least keep him hydrated.

Try nursing second, after he eats solids. If he likes pasta he may be maturing for texture, my son refused baby food at 10 months and wanted little pieces of what the family was eating. Gerber graduates are awesome for that the little meast sticks, finger sized mushy carrots, pears and so on. I agree with the other response, if he is hungry then he will eat. Try not nursing until after so he is hungry when going for solids, mix up flavors too, babies started out early on flavor are less picky eaters. Try even cheerios, yogurt, chopped up finely hard boiled eggs. Baby food just wasn't what my son ever wanted after he got a few teeth and figured out big people food tasted so much better. Good luck.

Dear J., no worries about your baby not eating baby food. His main nutrition is still coming from your breastmilk. The rest of the food is just for practice.

Hi J.,

Teething and a growth spurt could be causing this. As the other mommies said he should be getting enough nutrition through the breast feeding and for the most part this is normal. But it might not hurt to talk to your doctor about this. It is always good to be on the safe side. The only reason I say this is because two weeks is a long stretch for the little ones. Best of luck to you and your baby!

J.,

My daughter is now 10 months and at about 8 months did the same thing. She just wanted to eat what we were eating. At her Dr's visit at 9 months they gave me the ok to feed her pretty much nything (except honey etc). My daughter was so interested in what we were eating she didn't want the jarred food. She eats mostly what we eat now as long as it's soft. I just try and fortify her diet with a jar of veggie baby food each day. When she's really hungry she'll eat it. I don't really know for sure if it has to do with teething because my daughter is 10 months and just now got her first tooth. Good Luck!

L.