My baby refuses to eat anything but breastmilk. I'm ok for it now, but I'm worried he will be picky!?

Question

I've given him mashed bananas, mashed peaches, applesauce, rice cereal, and cooked carrots. He wants NOTHING to do with any of it. I know they say to keep trying, but how much do you need to try? I will continue to breastfeed him at least until a year, maybe longer, but how do I introduce more to him?

He's 8 months old.

Answer 1

Breastfeeding will *not* make your baby a picky eater. If anything, it will do the opposite, although there are breastfed babies who grow up to be picky children. It is less common, however, because he gets to taste the foods the family eats from the first day!

Wait until he is ready. Most babies are ready for solids between 6 and 12 months. When you *do* offer him food, be sure it's real food, not so-called "baby food" mush. Real food is tastier and more nutritious.

Signs of readiness for solids include the ability to sit unsupported and the development of the "pincer grasp"--when he picks up small objects with the thumb and first finger only. If he has both of these (and especially if he also has teeth), then he is probably developmentally ready for solids.

But some babies refuse to take any solids for other reasons. In some cases, it is because of allergies. An allergic baby who is exclusively nursing is more likely to outgrow the allergies. Or he may just not be interested yet.

Try offering him food with some texture. Give him a chunk of banana, soft peach, or baked potato (white or sweet). Or grate a bit of raw carrot or apple. Or you could give him a bit of well-cooked brown rice. Maybe he just knows better than to eat the mush you've tried offering him. Try one food once a day for a few days, then try another. Pick foods that *you* like; he'll enjoy them more. Put it in front of him and let him play with it and eat it if he wants. If he still seems uninterested, give it another week before you try again. Many babies aren't ready for solids until they're closer to the 12-month mark.

Answer 2

My younger daughter was practically the same way. She'd occasionally eat a few bites of something (especially if her big sister was eating it), but she was not impressed with solids at all. I just kept offering something every day and stayed patient with her, never pushing her to eat. Usually, I tried to offer something that we were already eating -- she never did take to baby food at all. She loved taking bites right off the banana that we shared or picking up peas.

I think it was right around a year that she finally started showing a greater interest in solids even though she still nursed a ton. At almost 21 months old, she still nurses 4-10 times a day, but she enjoys her solids, too, and eats pretty well at meals and snacks.

My older daughter loved all kinds of solids right from the beginning, so it was hard to accept that my younger daughter wasn't interested. I know it's not easy, but try to be patient, and he will eat solids eventually.

And actually, I've heard that breastfed babies tend to be less picky than formula-fed babies (at least at first) because the taste of breastmilk changes based on what you eat. So, as long as you're eating a variety of foods, he's experiencing the tastes in those foods.

Hope that makes you feel a little better!

Answer 3

You don't mention how old your son is in your question... but I would say that while I understand any Mommy being concerned about her child and their eating habits... he is probably just fine. As long as he's nursing, content and seems to be thriving and growing well then I'd say he just isn't quite ready. I wouldn't force the issue.

My son is now 6 months old and has no interest at all in beginning even rice cereal yet. He's perfectly content with being breastfed exclusively at the moment. I figure as long as he seems to be happy and healthy... I'll try not to stress about it.

As far as the being picky thing goes... I think that most toddlers go through a finicky and picky stage... but as long as children are exposed to a large variety of healthy foods they will more than likely end up enjoying a large variety. Everyone is different though... and he could just end up being particular about the types of foods he enjoys.

I think it's great, by the way, that you're intending to breastfeed for at least the first year... that's my goal too. It makes me so happy to come across another Mommy who is willing to try to make that type of a commitment for their child. It's encouraging and inspiring to other women... and sometimes they just seem to be few and far between.

Best wishes!

Answer 4

You have nothing to worry about. In fact, the six month solids rule was actually created for the fact that most women, unfortunately don't breastfeed past the 6-8 month mark and are weaned early. Most food up until 12 months is for tasting. You can actually have breastmilk be the primary source of your babies diet if you plan to nurse past a year. Go to http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html That is an EXCELENT breastfeeding resource and has tons of up to date information on anything you need to know. Hope this helps. I plan on breastfeeding into the first year and hopefully for two. Great job mama!

Answer 5

Have you tried giving him food he can feed himself instead of all that mashed up stuff? At 8 months, he might be more interested in a hunk of banana, a pile of mashed potatoes on his high chair tray, diced peaches, Cheerios...things he can pick up and feed himself.

It's FINE that his main nutrition is still breastmilk. It should continue to be that way for the whole first year. The solids are REALLY just for fun and practice still at this age.

Some babies refuse solids for a while because they are prone to allergies.

Answer 6

My son breastfed almost exclusively for the first year, and we tried plenty to get him to eat. However, things worked out just fine. My son is now eight and he eats a wide variety of things. In fact, I believe that he got a lot of different tastes from the breastmilk, so if you eat a wide variety of things, then your baby might too. I guess my best advice is to not stress out and enjoy the time that you have left breastfeeding your baby. Sometimes I look at that big boy I have and I think about how I miss that special closeness we used to have when he was nursing.

Answer 7

How old is he? It could simply be that he's just not ready to eat solids yet.

Breastfed babes don't need solids until 6 months. When I tried new foods for my daughters, I tried a few spoonfuls of stage 1 foods at a time. Carrots and squash were huge hits. Then we moved to fruits and other veggies.

Answer 8

Hi, you don't say how old your baby is. My baby is almost 9 mos old and is also refusing anything but breastmilk. It's ok as long as you are breastfeeding. Feeding solids before a year is just for practice and not much for nutrition. If you were formula feeding then you would definitely have to give him solids.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

He's just not ready. keep offering about once a week. He will take it when he is ready. Does he have teeth yet? A good rule of thumb is: their little tummies don't have the enzymes to process solids until their teeth start to come in. If he does have his teeth and still is refusing him, stop pressuring him so, he will come aroun din his own time.