Calling all parents/grandparents...I need YOUR help!

[jcemom]

DD (almost 10 months old) has decided not to eat anything from a spoon. This has been going on for over two weeks and I am running out of ideas...what should I feed her?

Every time I try baby food, cereal, or anything else on a spoon, I'm lucky to get one bite in her mouth before she knocks the spoon out of my hand! She will eat pretty much anything she can pick up herself and she has all 8 front teeth--no back teeth for a couple more months, probably. Here's what we've been eating:

hot dogs (skin removed, diced), canned carrots, sandwiches -- pb&j and grilled cheese, diced fruit (melons, plums, peaches, pears), pancakes, french toast, scrambled eggs, cheerios, macaroni and cheese, green beans (definitely not her favorite)

It looks like a lot of stuff in that list, but when you have it 3 or 4 times a day for weeks...

Anyone have any other ideas???

 

[janette]

My youngest refused anything that she couldn't feed herself at about 8 mths. I just gave her whatever everyone else had chopped up very well.

The only thing she had trouble with was tomatoe based sauces like spagetti. Her face would break out when she got it one her skin. Solved that by putting vaseline on her face before giving her that type of food.

 

[house_of_princesses]

I suppose I'd just take away the spoon. Sounds to me like she doesn't want that baby food or cereal anymore....she' movin' on up!!

 

[cassie]

I agree, It seems she's ready for table food. Cut everything up small for her to eat. I found at dinner tme to chop things up and mixed them in mash potatoes. It slides down easily, and baby is happy to eat whatever the family is having. Let her have the spoon too so she can feed herself. Granted, it will be a mess....but what the heck.

 

[bsnyder]

I'd just keep giving her all those cut-up things, and give her the spoon. Don't worry if she just plays with it, and doesn't actually use it to pick up the food.

She'll get the hang of it....I can practically guarantee she won't go off to college eating with her hands!

 

[house_of_princesses]

I can practically guarantee she won't go off to college eating with her hands!

LOL! My Mom used to say, "Don't worry, it will heal before you get to college". I guess it's the same principal.

When I said I'd take away the spoon, I meant the cereal and stuff. I'd let her play around with the spoon, use her hands, whatever gets it from table to tummy!

 

[poohandwendy]

At least 2 of my 3 childen did this also (not sure about my mddle child...been a while). My remedy? I would feed the 'spoon' foods first, when they were the most hungry, holding little fingers down for a few bites and then give them the finger foods for a while and then alternate if they would show any more interest in the spoon food. This way, they had at least a little variety.

If the problem seems to be that the baby just wants to hold the spoon (instead of you)...every now and then..take the high chair outside and let her have it (2 spoons, one for you and one for her...make it a game). It will be messy, but she may be one of the few who learn to use a spoon early.

good luck!!!

 

[April76]

Ours went through the same thing (they wanted to be independent AND realized they didn't like the consistency of baby food - unless it was used to paint themselves and their surroundings) .....

you're on the right track -- just give her things she can feed herself (and don't worry about the menu being repetitive; they don't seem to mind).

We went through lots of soft finger foods - especially those little meat sticks you buy in the baby food section and pasta (BTW, I give the canned saucy pasta a quick rinse in a collander to remove alot of the excess sauce... not nearly so messy and not too much acid from the tomatoes).

Good luck --- and although I have seen college kids eat (and it's not always a pretty sight) I have to agree that by then she'll at least know how to use the spoon.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree with everyone else that it sounds like she's ready to feed herself. I let DS just have cut up foods and often some applesauce with a spoon in it. He usually got more on himself than he ate but he gradually got the hang of it.

 

[winniedapooh]

As the Mom of 5 DCherubs I agree she is ready to do it herself and is showing you. I recall one time when my oldest DS would only eat spaghettio's for breakfast. I was horrified and mortified thought the child police would come get me for being a bad Mom. My pediatrician said that as long as he was eating and getting enough of everything let him go and he will soon tire of it. Took him a week but he was done with them, thankfully! Let her have some independence, heck on occasion my 6 yo DD thinks eating with her fingers is a blast, ugh!
Pixie dust to you.....

 

[Pooh93]

Awww..sounds like your little one is growing up. You have received great suggestions here that I can echo.

 

[Mamu]

She's growing up fast! Let her eat the same food as you. Cook them till soft and cut or grind them up fine.

My children and grandchildren never ate babyfood from a jar. We made everything they ate. First puree, then ground, then chopped. Yes they made a mess because they liked to feed themselves.

I watched all my Grandchildren while their parents worked. We went on vacation one year when DD daughter was 6-months. She went out and purchased babyfood in jars. Little Autumn wanted nothing to do with that food. Wouldn't touch it. I laughed when I talked to DD. You eat the babyfood, now go out and purchase fresh fruit and vegetables and cook them up for her.

There's nothing wrong with little ones eating with their fingers. Put a small fork and spoon on her tray. You'll be surprised at how fast she learns to use them.

 

[mtemm]

I would give her a spoon or baby fork with every meal, but it sounds like she's so good with finger foods that she may just prefer her fingers right now. I would definitely let her control the spoon, though.

Now count your blessings. My son is almost 18 months old and still refuses any veggies except for baby food ones. Ugh. Of course, I'd rather him eat the baby food ones than skip them altogether!

 

[jcemom]

Thank you so much for the replies!

I feel better now! I thought they were "supposed" to eat the baby cereal, etc until at least 1 year. (I have 2 boys, but they are 9.5 and 10.5 -- it's been a while, but I know they ate baby food well past 1 year.)

winniedapooh -- I, too, have been worried about the "child police" DD doesn't go back to the pediatrician for a couple of weeks and I could just hear myself saying "well, she hasn't eaten in a month or so!"

April76 -- She enjoys the baby foods for painting, too! After she knocks it down she seems to get quite a kick out of smearing it everywhere! tray, seat, face, hair...

Thanks again to everyone...I guess pb&j every day for lunch won't hurt her--at least, not too much! LOL She doesn't seem to mind. I guess it's been a while since I've done this and I worry too much, huh?

 

[powellrj]

When my kids were little I use to use baby food as sandwich filling. I would use the meats and spread it on bread and cut it in small pieces that they would eat with fingers. You could also use the veggies and fruits as spread for sandwiches. (kinda like jelly)

 

[jcemom]

powellrj -- good idea! I would never have thought of that!

 

[janette]

powellrj - that is a good idea, too late for me but that would have been great. The Iron kids crustless bread would make it really easy to do also since the crusts might be a little much for the little ones.