Baby Refuses Solid Food

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Posted September 6, 2011

I have a 7.5 month old that's having some trouble taking to solids. We've been trying since he was 6 months old but no luck. My doctor didn't really have any suggestions for me other than to keep trying everyday, which I have. He flat out refuses cereal of any kind (rice, oatmeal, whole grain or otherwise). He's a formula fed baby and I've tried mixing the cereal with formula and also with water - either way it's a no go. He's a little more receptive to veggies and we've tried, squash, sweet potato and green beans. I can only get a few spoonfuls into him before he starts razzing it out and turning his head in disinterest.

I've tried offering solids halfway through the bottle, before the bottle, at the end of a bottle, nowhere near bottle time.....the results are always the same. He doesn't fuss or get angry, he's just plain not interested. He doesn't open wide, but rather just kind of licks the spoon (kind of like a puppy). He doesn't push the food back out though. It's hard not to compare because our older daughter was like a baby bird, opening wide and eating everything and everything - starting at 5.5 months. She's still a great eater to this day.

But as my youngest approaches 8 months, I'm starting to get a little concerned. I've resorted to putting cereal in the bottle (1.5TBSP in a 200 mL bottle). He eats 4 times a day, approx every 4 hours. I know this doesn't help him practise eating, so I keep on with the veggies, but he needs the cereal to get full and stay full, not to mention to top up the iron. This being said, he's not a teeny weeny baby. He's off the charts for height (literally) and in the 65 percentile for weight.

What are your thoughts/suggestions. I purchased your starting solids manual but I think I need some more specific advice.

First of all, it is important to remember that it isn't crucial for him to eat cereal. Granted, it is often easy for a baby to like and provides iron for breastfed babies who don't get iron after 6 months or so. But since he is formula fed, he is getting plenty of iron. This means he can start with whatever he seems to tolerate best.

Another thing that is important to remember is that milk is the major growth food until he reaches one year. The introduction to solid food is now for "practice" only, and will not determine his rate of growth at this point.

Because he is nearly 8 months, we need to focus on approaching him via what he is curious about rather than trying to fit him into specific recommendations you might have received from books, charts you've been given, etc. So, if he watches you eating your lunch or dinner, put a small piece of what you are eating (bread, cheese, noodle, etc.)on his tray and let him decide what to do with it. If you don't come at him with food, he maybe much more receptive.

Let him reach for what he wants, regardless of the time of day or the particular nutrition involved.. He gets his major calories from milk, which should be offered about 3-4 times a day. The timing of the solid food should be more according to when he is curious about what you are eating; it doesn't need to be locked in to breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Please write back and let me know if this makes intuitive sense to you, and if you are feeling pressure from books, clinics or charts. In the meantime, I highly recommend books by Ellyn Satter. Ellyn Satter pioneered the concepts of the feeding relationship and eating competence. She is the author of the division of responsibility in feeding.

Kitty Raymond

Hi Kitty,

In the past couple days I took your suggestion and have given mum-mum teething crackers, chopped up peaches, my homemade meatballs and some pasta. He's been receptive to all of it - although not in great quantities. But I think you were bang on with allowing him to discover the food on his own, rather than me coming at him with it. And much to my relief, I think my baby will be a great eater after all - he just doesn't like being force fed pureed food. So, thanks very much for your great advice (as always) and I will forge on with renewed optimism!

As far as pressure from books, charts - perhaps I have been a little guarded in what I'm willing to let my son try (although that's gone out the window the past two days). Most books recommend not introducing dairy or food with egg in it until after the 9 month mark. (My meatballs have dairy products and egg in them). I've been slightly confused by this recommendation though, given that formula is cow's milk based ?????? So, yes, I guess I have felt some pressure to "follow the rules and recommendations" of the literature I've been given at public health visits and via health link. It's true, I've had some guilt in letting my baby eat the teething biscuits which are on the forbidden list and cheese (also forbidden). I would love to venture into yogurt, but that's a strict taboo based on the whole "probiotics are too much for babies tummy" theory. What's a mom to do?!

Raymond Parenting

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