so i'm starting my 4 month old on soilds.....?

Question

and he's acting like it's some newfound torture technique.
any tricks i can try? should i skip to fruits, just so he doesn't get so upset at the get go and think eating is a horrific experience? my firstborn had no problems eating....but the way this one screams, i'm afraid he's gonna choke, even though there is hardly any in there, and he spits that little bit back out. he takes it in his bottle just fine, so i know he is familiar with the taste---and i'm making sure it isn't thick at all for him......
i could no joke feed him 10 times with just one little spoonful of cereal. help please!!!

he just went for his 4 month check-up and his ped told me to start introducing the solids....gave me a little sheet and everything like a timeline of what to introduce and when. plus he seems like he's hungry more now, as in wanting a bottle more frequently. he doesn't want more at a sitting.......just more sooner than before.
but i guess it won't kill him to hold off a little longer. was just wondering if anyone else out there had a solid eating rebel.

**he has the cereal in his bottle due to severe reflux...it isn't even a lot, just some to help thicken it in his tummy so he don't reflux as much...those instructions given to me by his gastroenterologist.

so pretty much don't try and bribe him with some pears mixed in or something then huh?

oh....by starting solids i mean, starting to spoon feed cereal only, my "guideline" says cereal 4-5 months and says fruits and veggies can be added at 5-6 months.

Answer 1

He may still have the tongue thrust reflex. It will be impossible to feed him until he loses it. I'd say hold off for a couple of weeks, and if you want to try again, try then. Don't force it, or your son will become very resistent to spoon feeding even when he is developmentally ready.
And APA recommends around six months to start solids anyway. Most babies only take about half a teaspoon at a meal when they start, anyway, so it's not like they need it for nutrition at this point; it's more to help them practice HOW to eat. (Any later than 7 mos. and a lot of babies don't WANT to learn how to eat solids).

Answer 2

My reflux baby refused to eat solids until around 7 months. He had cereal since he was a week old. Keep trying, eventually he will eat solids, have you tryed an infant feeder, i know almost every doc says no, but with low weight reflux babies, my sons nutritionist insisted we try it just to give him more calories a day. He loved the feeder.

Some of the number 1 foods are too thin for reflux babies and you may want to start with number 2, if he is used to cereal in milk, then it will be fine.

Answer 3

4 months is a little early, although if he has reflux, I can understand the ped suggesting it. My son had terriable reflux so i introduced a little rice ceral in his bottle and then graduated to rice cereal in a bowl. Apparently it is the easiet to digest. My ped even suggested giving the cereal to him before bedtime so that it stayed down and helped him sleep. when I fed him during the day, I would mix a bit of mush baby food into the cereal and gradually increase the fruit or veggie and decrease the cereal. With both my babies, I started with veggies first and then gave them a bit of fruit after. Reflux can be very painful. My little guy wasn;t the best eater to start with, but now that he is turning 1 he just shovels it in, (if he can manage to find his mouth,( Get a mat for under the high chair when he is old enough to sit in one) Avoid anything with nuts or honey in it. Good luck.
p.s. I started to keep track of different reactions to different foods , avoid the gassy veggies like cauliflower and broccoli.

Answer 4

Munchkin makes these spoons http://www.munchkin.com/products/detail.html?pID=55
which you can also find at Wal-Mart. My son was the same way(reflux and all) and feeding him with these makes it easier. It just takes some kids a little longer to get the swallowing down. Have you talked to his doctor about maybe mixing cereal with pear juice? Sometimes it's easier because it's sweet. Or, if you've gotten the OK for pureed fruits, mix some with that. Don't give up, he'll get it down!

Answer 5

the World Health Organisation, La Leche League and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend babys are exclusively milk fed (breastfed if possible, ie NO cereal) until they are 6mo. Then they can start solids. The reason for this is to reduce the risks of allergies forming, by giving the gut and immune system time to mature.

Once they reach 6mo, before you start feeding solids, they should be able to hold their head up by themself (rsik of choking if not), have lost the tongue thrust reflex (pushing out their tongue when anything is put in their mouth), and should have an interest in food. If they don't have these three things, you shouldn't start solids.

Many babies show interest in food before 6mo. In this case, you can give them a spoon to play with, a sipper cup with a little bit of water in the bottom, a teething ring, etc to encourage them to explore and develop new skills, without introducing solids to an immature digestive system.

"Listen to your baby! Babies with a tendency to allergies may refuse solids until later in their first year. As long as they are growing well and are happy and healthy, there is no need for concern." La Leche League

But remember - milk should remain the main source of nutrients until the baby's first birthday (La Leche League).

There are also other ways of starting solids than mushy foods: see Baby led introduction to solids in link section (This is based on research, not anecdotal evidence). This is how my family have started solids with our baby

Answer 6

Well it sounds like your son isn't ready for solid's yet. BUT- I would keep trying to give him a little at a time. My daughter hated it at first- mainly because it was a different texture and we would mix a little baby oatmeal and some fruit baby food together and she started to eat like crazy. Starting him on fruit isn't a bad thing and regardless of what others may say, it is proven that it doesn't effect what they will eat later. It won't stop them from eatting vegtable, etc. You know your son- just because a doctor says one thing doesn't mean it's right for your son. You have motherly instincts- go with them.

Answer 7

Most babies aren't ready for solids this early. He's exihibiting classic signs that he's not interested yet. By forcing him you may be doing more harm than good at this point. Let your baby be your guide... he'll let you know when he wants to eat solids (and then you likely won't be able to STOP him :-)

Every baby's different, but we started our daughter on cereal at 6 months and veggies then fruits at 7 months.

Answer 8

He probably is'nt ready yet.No need to rush.You can wait a few weeks & try again.He is only 4mths so it is not a problem to wait.Do not force him.It sounds like he does'nt want to start yet.No i would not introduce fruits this early.At 4mths they do not need the sugar that is in baby food.He has cereal in his bottle,so he is getting the grain he needs.

Answer 9

the package may say it and the doctor may say it but babies have their own timeline. he just might not be ready give him a week or two and try again. and try a little at a time. jsut a spoon there and sppon there and try not to make it a big scene that in itself can turn him off from it

Answer 10

Solids are good for the baby but not alot they will gain weight fast i say keep the baby on soft food tell he is atleast 6 months