Getting baby to eat baby food

[MikeB63]

I have a 5 month old DD and about a month ago we started trying to feed her stage 1 baby foods according to her doctor's instructions. We have tried applesauce, sweet potatoes, carrots and butternut squash and with all of them we get the same reaction. She makes faces like she is eating a lemon and after a few minutes, refuses to open her mouth. She winds up eating very little of it (Maybe a teaspoon if I'm lucky). I have called the doctor about it and they just said to keep trying every day. She does take her rice cereal just fine. I was just wondering what other babies reactions have been to the baby food in the beginning?

 

[LScot]

Can you mix a little in with her cereal and see what she does? I'm trying to remember (DD ate way before 5 months! LOL) but I was thinking "yellow" veggies didn't come first. Does she like anything besides her cereal?

 

[Randi]

I would think a teaspoon is a good amount for a 5 mo.old. who hasn't eaten before. don't forget this is a new taste, and getting used to a spoon isn't easy. In the "old days", my kids were getting cereal mixed in their bottles before they were 2 weeks old. By the time they were 5 months, they were eating all kinds of baby food and even some finger foods. I do have some funny pictures that I like to embarrass them with now. Hope you are taking pictures of this new experience!

 

[disney4us2002]

Been faced with this one probably 40x (daycare provider as well as 3 sons, lol). I'm surprised that your pediatrician is recommended that much variety as this point, but every doc is different. She probably likes the cereal because it is mixed with breast milk or formula, whichever, she is used to that taste. With the intro of new foods, it is wise to add a tiny amount of bm/formula to about 2 tsp of food (not in jar, separate the amount you're feeding), and then try to feed her when she is hungry (but not starving) but not tired. Many babies prefer sucking to eating so if she is a bottle baby, you can try a few spoonfuls then a few sucks of the bottle in between. Also, you can mix the cereal then add enough baby food so that it is about half and half and try that. If after several days she is still too resistant, I would suggest sticking with the cereal and trying again in a month. Just like every doc is different, so is every baby.

 

[RadioNate]

We had this problem with DS but her wouldn't even take cereal. Aside from a few bites here and there he never ate baby food. He survivedon BM and formula until he was about 9 months when we went to the stage 3 chunky foods (he actually would old eat chicken noodle or chicken pasta) the gerber graduate veggies and mashed up table foods.

I have no advice as we just ended up giving up on the baby food but I wanted to let you know that I understand how frustrating it can be.

DS is now 3 and is a GREAT eater. There are very few things he doesn't eat and always eats a good amount. He still doesn't like anything mushy like applesauce though.

 

[KimR]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. My youngest never ate baby food aside from a little bit of cereal here and there. My pediatrician said it's not a problem, some babies just don't like it. She began eating yogurt when she was around 10 months but other than that, she survived solely on breastmilk for the first year and did just fine. She is and always has been perfectly healthy. Other than the occasional cold or (very rarely) upset tummy, she is never sick.

But do keep trying because I think it is important for them to get used to different tastes and textures. My DD is still is an extremely picky eater - more so than most children. I have a very hard time getting her to eat 'real meals'. I have to rely primarily on healthful snacks in order for her to get the nutrition she needs. She won't have anything to do with meat or veggies.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

ITA with the poster who said to mix some in with the cereal.

With both of my DS's, it didn't seem to be a taste problem but a texture problem--it just wasn't thick enough if that makes sense.

Worked like a charm for both of them!!!