My baby is turning into a toddler and she just refuses to eat food if I spoon feed her, she wants to do it herself. I can handle that but I am worried about the fact that she is not getting enough food. Since it has been a very frustrating week, my husband decided to put some cereal in her bottle in order to get her to eat some. Of course, he tries to spoon feed her with the cereal first. By the way, she has never had cereal in her bottle before.
2006-07-01 00:55:03 · 12 answers · asked by Paty 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
She usually eats her cereal in the morning, right after she wakes up followed by a bottle of formula. My husband is putting some cereal in her bottle after he tries to feed her in the morning to get some calories in her. He thinks since she was never given cereal in her bottle she would not develop any eating problems later in her life.
2006-07-01 01:13:17 · update #1
Oh, another detail, she does not want to eat finger foods. We have tried many many times little pieces of cheese, fruit, veggies, bread but she doesn't want them yet.
2006-07-01 01:23:36 · update #2
I never did give my boys cereal in their bottles. My first one was eating fairly well by the time he was 12 months. My second one who is now 22 months, still gives me a fit about eating. He did the same thing yours is doing. He refuses to eat unless he does it himself. I basically just give in and let him sit there and feed himself, with me close by or sitting next to him.
The key is to make sure that your baby isn't full or hasn't just eaten a snack. I get better results after he has been outside playing for a little while. Instead of giving him a drink when we come in, I give him something to eat.
As far as the cereal goes, you can feed your baby grits or something similar. I did that with mine and instead of making them where they were liquidy, I heat about 1/3 of a cup of milk/formula in the microwave for about 20 seconds and add it to one package of instant grits. Let them stand for just a minute and they will thicken. Once thicken, I spooned them onto a plate and let him hand feed himself. Believe it or not, he really enjoyed that. It was a bit messy at first, but he got the hang of it quickly.
Hope all goes well. It is frustrating, but sometimes you have to decide how much of a baby you can let your baby be.
Your baby will let you know if she is getting enough. The only time I would worry is if she doesn't eat anything at all. Don't be surprised, but it won't be long and her appetite may drop off a great deal. It is a toddler thing. As long as she is growing and getting some type of nutrition, she will be fine.
2006-07-01 01:20:25 · answer #1 · answered by melprkr 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can compromise and give her some of the cereal in her bottle. But making a mess and getting more food in her hair than in her mouth is part of learning to feed herself, so let her try. And she's also having fun at the table. It'll be an awful mess for a while but soon enough she'll start getting it right.
Keep in mind that some peditricians recommend that you start weaning from the bottle at this age and start introducing the cup.
2006-07-01 08:18:24 · answer #2 · answered by slackster1998 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 12 month old eats like that, don't worry and it is very unnecessary to give her cereal in a bottle. If she is gaining weight and looks healthy, then she is getting enough food. Did you know that after 12 months it isn't even required for babies to have milk? Feed her sandwiches and things that you eat too, she wants to be like you and explore, let her pick it up and make a mess! It will get better later, for now enjoy!
2006-07-01 10:29:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried various spoons? Some children like the rubber coated spoons while others like hard plastic. I would skip the metal spoons. Have your tried fruits yet? You can mix them in with the cereal. Also, you must ensure good positioning of your child prior to feeding , A good high chair with trunk support will allow stabilty and support so arms and hands can move for feeding. You may want to wrap a rolled towel around her legs and bottom ( between her and the back of the chair). good luck.
2006-07-01 09:40:29 · answer #4 · answered by mom-o-3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try giving her a banana in the morning....my daughter would let me feed her a couple bites but then she trys to grab the spoon but she just wants to shake it around and not eat.....also you can try to feed her and if she wont let you dont give her anything for a while(stop feeding her) she will learn that if she sits still and lets you feed her she will get her meal....also if she has too many bottles during the day she wont eat solids either...as long as she doesnt show signs of anemia she should be fine..my daughter will go a day with only eating 1 solid meal and 2 bottles a day..growth spurts usually make them eat less.
2006-07-01 08:12:11 · answer #5 · answered by sjeboyce 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
12 month olds should be self feeding cheerios and such. I have a 12 month old and other than nursing, he is eating cereal that he can feed himself, small pieces of fruits and veggies, crackers, cookies, pasta, small bites of chicken...
There is really no need for a healthy toddler to still need infant cereal. It actually doesn't have enough nutrients and calories for them at this stage.
2006-07-01 08:20:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pediatrician we first went to said no, but it seemed that everyone I knew had put cereal in their baby's bottle. We ended up getting a new pediatrician after our son turned 18 months and he said he had no problem with it as long as you didn't let them keep it at night when the sugars could ruin their teeth.
2006-07-01 08:07:53 · answer #7 · answered by barefeet561 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all you should have introduced her to different solid foods by now she is 12months(1 year) and she should be eating table foods now or a certain stage 3 or 4 or toddler hand foos she needs to get off the bottle it is not good for her teeth
2006-07-01 10:01:25 · answer #8 · answered by Raquel C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so...while you're attempting to feed her, give her her own spoon...then everyone will be happy!-and she'll eat when she's hungry, just don't overdo it with milk and formula, so she's not full all the time...
she's going to start being her own person now, so you have to learn these compramises...
and i think that a bottle is not a good thing for a 1 yr. old...you should start weaning her now if you haven't already, or she'll become dependant...but that's your decision...
good luck!!
2006-07-01 08:09:44 · answer #9 · answered by alfjr24 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't feed in bottle. put through your hands and add some love and affection ( which turns food in to amrut).
2006-07-01 07:58:39 · answer #10 · answered by veerendra m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋