My 11 month old will not eat baby food or food from a spoon. He only wants to breastfeed. What should i do?

Answer 1

Nurse her, of course. Most breastfed babies are ready to start solids between 6 and 12 months. She will probably start sometime within the next month or so. But some babies are allergic and refuse all foods for that reason. I had one child who wouldn't eat a bite of anything until he was 18 months old. (Except for twice when he wanted to eat wheat at about 15 months old--he vomited both times. Apparently, he wouldn't eat because it *hurt* him!!) He is now 16 and very healthy.

Whatever you do, do *not* refuse to feed him. He may *not* eat "when he gets hungry enough". Not all babies do. Even if this *isn't* a problem, a baby will dehydrate long before he starves himself. You could end up with a very sick hospitalized baby!!

I hope you're not giving him so-called "baby foods". Have you actually tasted that stuff?! Real food is tastier and more nutritious. Peel a banana and give it to him. He will play with it, but he may also eat some. Or grate a tablespoonful of fresh raw carrot. Maybe he doesn't like sweet foods (most babies do), so try giving him a spoonful of cooked brown rice. Put food in front of him and don't make a big deal out of it. He will be *fine* nutritionally on your milk alone at least until his first birthday (until 12 months old, solids are for *experience* only, not for nutrition). Many babies are fine long past then (see above).

Answer 2

Babies can get by for a year or more on breastmilk alone. It is the perfect food for human children and there is no reason to be concerned. Some babies are interested earlier than others. I couldn't get my baby to eat much off a spoon until she was almost nine months. She is ten months now and about 90% of her diet is breastmilk. Eating solids during the first year is more for practice than anything else. Enjoy nursing your baby!!

Answer 3

My son was the same way until he was 18 months old. Just keep breastfeeding him and forget baby food. Afterall, you wouldn't eat that stuff, would you?

When he is 12 months old, start offering him food from your plate (as long as you eat healthy food and not junk or fast food). If he doesn't want it, don't force him just wait until the next meal to invite him again. Eventually he'll taste everything and want to try more.

Most kids around the world have nothing but breast milk for the first 12 to 18 months of life and they are perfectly healthy and content.


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Answer 4

Here are a few suggestions, but do try to remember that at this age, he is still getting all the nutrients he needs from breastmilk. Don't listen to anyone that tells you to wean him! He's not ready, let him cut back on his own time.

In the meantime...
Try making your own baby food. Puree soups, stir fries, mash up whatever's on your plate.
If that doesn't work, he could just want to eat it not mushed up. Many babies will go straight to finger foods from breastmilk. Try giving him something like a slice of pear (actually to be honest my daughter prefers eating fruit right from the fruit! she's 10 months and she'll pick the peeled fruit right up and suck on it!) or a carrot stick (whcih is good to teeth on but don't leave him alone with it in case he chokes). Melon slices are good too.

Just try and make it fun for him. It's very likely that he won't be interested in eating the food until he has sufficiently explored it first - so prepare for a mess, and let him dive in.

Try to remember, that eventually, he will eat. But the primary reason that most people recommend starting baby's with solids at 6 months isn't because they need it nutritionally, it's so they can get used to the new textures and tastes. Baby doesn't actually NEED any extra nutrients from food until around the first birthday. Food is kind of like a condiment for now. And even after he turns one, just keep at it, and your breastmilk is still so rich in nutrients he won't be lacking.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I would recommend setting up a schedule when it's time for him to eat where you try to get some babyfood in him before you breastfeed him. Start with sweet things, like mixed fruit, as babies usually like it better than vegetables. I know that's easier said than done, but the only way to make it work is to acclimate him in little steps to being spoon fed.

Answer 6

What I would do is be stubborn. You can't have him hanging off your chest forever. So insist on the spoon or he doesn't eat. He will eat when he's hungry enough. Tough lough approach for a baby I know. But he has to learn. I wouldn't bother with La Leche. They'll tell you to breastfeed until he gets his learner's permit to drive a car.

Answer 7

By 11 months old, they lose interest in mushy baby food, i.e. anything on a spoon. Try crackers and "toddler stages finger food" that you can find at the store. Also, see if he has more interest when he sees you or other family members eating. "Texture is everything" at 11 months.

Answer 8

My sister did not stop breastfeeding until she was 2 1/2 the pediatrician said this was OK it doesn't really matter just make sure that you only breast feed him 1 or 2 a day so that he can understand that not every time he is going to have you for food

Answer 9

i nursed all my kids for 1 year after that it was done but before 1 year i started to wean and only nursed 2 times a day am and pm thats it if he looks for you let his dad feed him cereal cheerios any yogurt then you come back in the room dont let him see you at feeding time or if dads not there just put finger foods on his high chair and go in the other room so he cant see you and listen if he chokes.. just stay close by and dont let himj push u over your the boss... he will learn to like foods... start with a sippy cup at this age.. he sill enjoy it juice or milk ok hope i helped i have 6 kids take care denise

Answer 10

Breastfeed...If you are ok with it do it...he will get all the nutrition he needs from that. If you really want him to eat food more independently try foods that are easily grabbed by his fingers and that he won't choke on and let him feed himself. My daughter (10 Months) wants to feed herself and doesn't like a lot of foods but she does like spagetti sauce...anything with that on it and she gobbles it up (she esp likes the ground up hamburger, it is an interesting texture and easily chewed and swallowed)