baby 5months and not taking to baby purity cereal or mashed veg any suggestions to encourage eating?

Question

she's waking at nite due to hunger so feel she needs to start solids but she not keen on eating food.

Answer 1

try adding some cereal to the bottle! don't make it too thick, but maybe a couple of teaspoons. you may have to poke the nipple to clear the way, just don't make the hole too big either!

hope this helps, and works for you!

Answer 2

Your best bet is to mix some plain baby cereal in with the formula at night. Don't make it to thick but you'll still need to cut the hole in the nipple a little larger. This will keep the babies tummy full for a little longer and the baby should wake a lot less than she is now. Then when that starts to work then try putting her on just cereal 1 time a day and formula the rest. Babies tend to need formula for the first year of life. Then the go to regular adult milk. This is what I did for my son who is now 4 years old and doing just fine. Good luck. Any other questions you can e-mail me at [e-mail]. I'll try to help you the best I can.

Answer 3

put a little cereal in her formula to fill her up more. Some babies just aren't interested in solid foods for a little while longer yet. Don't stress about it, just try to fill her up other ways like with the cereal in the bottle. Use a couple of spoonfuls at first and see how she does, and slowly increase the amount, but make sure she can get it through the bottle nipple easily. You may have to slit the nipple a little or buy ones with bigger openings.

She will want to eat in due time. My baby was close to that age before he had any interest in it. Just keep trying.

Answer 4

Please don't add rice cereal to the formula milk!! Sounds like she's just not ready to wean onto solids, however you could try pureed fruit which most babies find quite palatable because of its natural sweetness. Pureed apple is handy or make your own. Feeding a baby sweet foods like fruit does not develop them into sweet tooth addicts but sometimes encourage them to take food from a spoon and experiment with different tastes. Try at your own mealtimes with tiny or mashed pieces of what you are eating. There's no hard and fast rules when it comes to weaning some babies aren't ready at five months, milk will be sufficient for a while but you might have to add some extra feeds in.

Answer 5

Developmentally, she may not be ready for foods. My daughter was like this. She is now 8 months old and just started eating baby foods 3 weeks ago-she just couldn't get the hang of it before. Maybe try giving her an extra bottle during the day. However, sleeping through the night is also developmental and she may not be ready for this yet either. You can try the No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley if you need some help in getting her to sleep through the night.

Answer 6

Shes maybe not ready for solids and if you push it you could end up with a fussy eater on your hands. Can you get the next step of milk for her? This will have more calories. Also are you sure she hasnt got night time colic? Colic symptoms are often mistaken for hunger. Try a bottle of boiled cooled water and some infacol before feeds, there are also special milks you can buy for severe colic. At 5 months maybe the flavour of the foods you are offering her are to strong, try baby rice but make it quite runny then gradually make it thicker. Good luck xx

Answer 7

In terms of solids, give baby cereal only intially either before or after the baby has her milk - but make it really watery. That way it's less of an adjustment for them to make - since it tastes similar to milk, and will have a similar consistency if it's watery enough. They need to adjust to the "stop start" nature of solids as until that point they're used to the constant flow of milk. It's alot for the little mites to get to grips with - bless 'em!!! To start with you only need to give 1 or 2 teaspoons of baby rice/ cereal. I started using it once per day (lunchtime), then gradually incorporated it into other mealtimes. Then gradually increased the amounts. After that, try adding veg purees to the baby cereal. Go with the flow - ie let your baby be your guide as to how fast to progress.
Sorry to contradict others who've posted, but I have it on good authority that you should never put baby cereal in a bottle to thicken it!!!

Answer 8

i used oatmeal mixed with brest milk or formula(only 2-3 tbl spoons)to start my baby out on solids i used it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a bottle. there are some risks with putting cereal in a bottle but if you are comfortable with doing so by all means. also to keep your child from waking up during the night... when she does wake up check her diaper and if it doesnt need changing lay her down and tell her good night, if you give her a bottle at this time she will expect one at this time. it can be one of the hardest things to do letting her cry but she will be fine and it wont last long. some people may think that i am selfish by not giving my child attention when they cry in the middle of the night but then again they dont have to live with me or my child

Answer 9

Try blending instead of mashing the veg it makes it very smooth ,also add some formula milk to it.For the cereal try adding a little pulped banana to sweeten it and make it slide down the throat easily,its hard at first to get them to take solids,you just have to persevere,little bits is the key ,good luck !

Answer 10

she's just starting foods dont have her all of a sudden go to solids. she still needs the formula to get her nutrients. i fed my kids formula and gave them babyfood in between feedings or i fed them babyfood then they would try and finish a 4 oz bottle. i gave them variety foods i mixed banans with her cereal i think they already have that mixed in a jar or you can buy fresh veggies and fruits and mash it yourself. usually after being in a jar will take the flavor out if veggies and fruit. i wouold try a little strwberry but be cautious due to allergic reactions. shell take to it soon you have to think about it she's been only used to milk from the begining of her life. or put a plate of all kinds of stuff on her plate itll get messy but shell try and find what she likes.
oh yes for a child they need to eat about 5-6 times a day. it doesnt have to be a big meal even snacking works.

Answer 11

Take your baby to a doctor to see if she has any food allergies. Talk to your doctor about her habits. Do you have ablender or food processor at home? You might be able to make some food for her from scratch. Boil carrots, then puree them with just a little bit of salt. Pulse cooked chicken, or peas, or make some applesauce from scratch. Check on the computer for recipes for baby foods. She might be reacting to something in the processed baby foods.
I hope that you hang in there and that your baby is OK soon. One more thing--she might be teething--that tends to make a baby fussy and irritable. If that is the case, get some Anbesol Jr. to rub on her little gums.
I'm rooting for her,and for you. Keep your cool, and you will get through this.