My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

I have been making her "finger foods," (steamed carrot pieces, pasta, squished blueberries etc.) and giving her her 4 bottles a day, but how do I get the cereal into her diet? Put it in her bottles? She literally wrestles the spoon out of my hand like a prisoner would fight for the last cigarette in the joint. She then mashes her lips together very tightly and it is total refusal!


ETA: She is 8 months old.

Message edited 9/3/2009 4:10:22 PM.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

does she want to play w the spoon or feed herself? what happens if you let her grab the spoon w food and then use a backup spoon? have you tried distracting her?

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Have you tried making the cereal thicker and with clean hands feed her via your finger. Some babies don't like objects in their mouths, but will suck your finger. If she takes it from your finger, eventually she will take it from the spoon. Also give her the spoon and let her play with it. If she is comfortable with the spoon she may eventually want to put it in her mouth.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

DD was like this. I gave her her own spoon and when she would open her mouth to "feed herself", I would stick my spoon full of food in first.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

My DD likes to grab the spoon too and put it in her mouth, so when she does this I let her. usually I keep my hand on it so the food gets in her mouth, but let her touch it, play with it.
I also give her an extra spoon to play with.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

I have the same issue, DD, 8 months old, wants want im eating or what she can chew, she will let me put food in her mouth with my finger but hates spoons,

so far this sometimes helps:

-giving her her own spoon to play with
-acting like im giving her a puff and when she opens up put the food in
-putting a little yobaby yogurt on the spoon with the food (she loves the yogurt)

I will say, ive been steering more towards thicker food and finger food. IMO cereal is not a necessity as it really doesnt have the nutritional value that other foods do.

Have you giving her cheerios, or oatmeal with small pieces of fruit?

HTH

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

i read this is a normal developmental point once they learn about finger foods. I would not worry about the cereal, def don't wrestle her. But keep trying, next day she may go for it. Or see if you give her her own spoon while you spoon feed. Or see if she will do it herself.

My DD also started grabbing the spoon alot more now. But not so good about self feeding, just started to do thsi.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

this is Chels exactly!!!! as she's picking up food with her fingers I sneak the spoon in, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and she gets pizzed... so I'm not making her literally an extra serving of our dinner every night....my DH claims she's eating better than he is

ETA: I'm not wrestling so much with cereal, but I have a load of frozen veggies I've made her and want her to eat it up...

Message edited 9/3/2009 4:49:28 PM.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

You can let her feed herself, which is a great learning experience for her, but may be messy for you.
Or you can give her one spoon to play with and feed her with the other one.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

I can't tell you how many months it's been since my DS has had cereal. At least 2 and he's 9 months old. Cereal is not a necessity.

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Thank you all!

After quoting Lupe, I realized that I could quote each one of you!

I have a ton of jarred babyfood, cereal and frozen butternut squash that I want her to eat!

I am boiling a chicken leg now. I will let it sit covered in the fridge tonight and break it up tomorrow.

Sigh.

I hope this is just a little phase!

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?

ds is impossible to get cereal in anymore... but he eats a million cherios throughout the day... interestingly enough he will let me feed him yogurt which i mix myself... because it is think after adding the puree of fruit i make i add cereal to the yogurt to thicken it uup so he gets some there

Re: My DD refuses to be fed w/ a spoon...what do I do?