I need Advice-eating issues

DD is 6 months 3 weeks old and im having such issues with her food.

I have EBFed and she always refused a bottle (on occasion she would have one) and refused the paci (fine by me, one less thing to wean).

I started cereal at 5 months 3 weeks bc she was showing all signs of being ready. Initially she seemed to enjoy it, i did just rice cereal for 5 days and she was fine, then switched to oatmeal. She hated oatmeal. Went back to rice-she no longer wanted anything to do with it.

Ive tried cereal with BM, with water, with fruit, with veggie. Ive tried EB rice and oatmeal cereal, Happy bellies oatmeal and even Gerber single grain rice. Ive tried peas, carrots, bananas and apples. She only slightly tolerates the peas (she liked them the first day and wanted nothing more to do with them.)

Its a fight to get her to eat a teaspoon and a half of cereal. she spits it out, prys her mouth closed, etc.

I just do not know what to do anymore. Could it be i need to try different spoons?

PLEASE any advice would be appreciated. She has been so difficult with eating from anything but the breast, I just do not know what to do, I hate that she is so miserable with anything but the breast and honestly its so exhausting because feeding time is such a struggle if i try bottle or solids.

TIA for your help~

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

When we first gave DS cereal it was pretty watered down.

Maybe you can try feeding DC breast milk from the spoon.

I think DS had a 6 mos doc visit you can talk to your ped then.

We only used one spoon but the babysitter had a few dif spoons so I'm not sure that's it.

Not sure what other think - just throwing it out there - what about giving her a spoon to play with - maybe she'll get used to it?

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

no advice just

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

No advice, my almost 1 year old doesn't like baby food or table food for the most part

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

my daughter isn't a big eater and never was. i hear ya on this! honestly, once you let it go it becomes easier. also, when it seems like it is her idea, things go better. don't let it be a battle and let each bite be a success. Try not to measure too much. Let her play with spoons and eat like a cavewoman. Keep offering it b/c some kids don't take to tastes and textures immediately. They really do need many exposures. ETA: could she also be into baby lead weaning and will just go straight to table food? it's funny but these kids have a plan in their heads sometimes!

Message edited 7/22/2009 3:28:45 PM.

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

Does your dd watch you eat. Maybe you could try small pieces of table food and see if she will feed herself

Re: I need Advice-eating issues

Thanks so much for your replies!

To answer- Yes she does watch me and DH eat and she does a chewing motion, which is part of the reason why i started solids to begin with.

I never thought that maybe she was going to skip baby food and go straight to table food bc i never heard of this being an issue before. My mom thinks smtgs wrong, I thought maybe shes just not ready.

Anyway, I think im going to just keep trying and give her spoons to play with and just let her do her thing like u suggested.

I have tried giving her half a puff and she almost choked (she has a bad gag reflex sometimes) so i am too fearful to give her table food yet.

Thanks again! any other input is so appreciated!