I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

9 times out of 10 she puts up such a fight!
I know she likes the taste of some of them (sweet potatoes, peaches, etc...), but she'll take a few spoonfuls and then just keep her mouth shut!
She's 6 months old & the most she's ever had at a sitting is 3/4 jar of Stage 1, and that was ONCE. Most of the time it's 1/2 Stage 1 jar.
She fights with the cereal many times too.
She wants the instant gratification of the bottle.

Any hints on what I can do?
Her Dr. really wants her to get more solids in her diet now, but she's being impossible.

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Maybe try giving her the solids first before the bottle when she is good and hungry.

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Right, you will probably think I am so lax with my kid, but if she doesn't want to eat it, so she doesn't want to eat it. Noah isn't too hot on his solids either, and I usually wind up giving him a bottle in between bites of solids.

At the moment its really hot so he is off his foods completely, but I am hesitant to force foods on him because I am keen for him to have really good associations with food. I give him lots of finger foods in the day...rice cakes are a favorite. He spends most of the time with them trying to get it in between his big and smaller toe and rubbing it in his hair.

The one thing I would say is to remember that at six months old they are not getting their nutrition from the solids, their milk feeds are still their main source of nutrition, but the solids are to get them used to eating and tasting different things. I would just give her food at every meal and if she doesn't want to eat it...don't force her to eat it! Just go with the flow man!

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

I still go through the same thing with Emily and she is 9 months old. She definately prefers "finger foods" to babyfood -- and has for a while now.

This to think about:
1. at 6 mos. my dr said it was okay to start pureeing some of the food we eat for dinner and giving that to her. you can do most foods especial mild chicken/beef without a lot of seasonings, and veggies, rice, potatoes etc. i bought a food mill and some poeple do it in a blender. My food mill was $12 from onestepahead.com

2. finger foods -- puffs are definately okay at this age -- as well as avacado, grains of rice, cooked sweet potatoes cut up into small chunks but still soft, shredded chicken, etc. also the teething net is great for things that you might be more worried about like biter biscuits and frozen chunks of banana == and the baby is still eating them even though it's through the net!

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

I get this from Roman as well. At child care they say he eats no problem. At night time or the weekends he literally will throw himself back and turn his head. I give in and give him his bottle. Sometimes I've found he will like the fruits just plain out of the jar not mixed with cereal. I just never know how he'll act

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

You never want to force a baby to eat. Relax, she is still very young! Solids should be fun at this point, not stressful.

(My daughter didn't eat solids well until she was 9 months old, and she is still a chubby wubby healthy girl!)

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

We had the same problem too. My theory was she has 90 something more years to eat solid or pureed foods why force. We also had a hard time when she started finger foods she was more interested in throwing them. My doc also wanted her off the bottle by her first birthday and that didn't happen either. They only get to be babies once. Why force it? I mean she takes 3 bottles a day I am not going to stress her out over that. She uses the sippy cup all the rest of the day.

As for the baby foods, at this point she is still not getting that much nutrients from the food, it's more for teaching most of her nutrients are coming from BM or formula. As long as she is gaining and not cranky the rest of the day don't beat yourself up over it. Time will come.

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Talia has never taken more than probably 10 spoonfuls of baby food - ever - she went straight to table/finger food. Don't sweat it, just keep trying - she gets her nutrients from the formula anyway. I started Talia on finger foods at about 7 months - now she eats like a little piggy. It was never the taste - but the texture she seemed to dislike.

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

A~

I had the same problem with Jacob and the solids.. he is starting to come around now. I didnt force the issue, and still dont. If i am feeding him and he clamps the mouth shut i give up for that meal. Sometimes he shocks me and wants to eat and eat.. other times he wants no part of it. I have actually been noticing the oposite though, he has been eating solids and is only drinking a few oz of formula here and there, but i think it may be due to teething. But i worry that he wont gain weight properly if he doesnt drink enuf! uh! These kids right??? They always keep us guessing..

hang in there..

Noreen

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

Brianna won't eat certain stuff unless its warm and I mix the fruit and veggies in with the cereal, she likes it all together.. She must be having a growth spurt because she will eat ANYTHING I give her right now... Brianna is the opposite she will only take 3-4 oz bottle all the time she prefers the solids!! Just a little DIVA!!

Re: I Cannot Get Alex to Eat Her Solids!!!

What got Katie eating solids (we had the same problem) was having dh sit next to her eating while I was trying to feed her. She opened her mouth every time he did.

She was 6 motnhs then, too even though we tried at 4.

Message edited 7/5/2006 9:23:43 PM.