desperately need help on how to get my baby to eat baby food?

Question

I have a 4 1/2 month old baby that is so ready for cereal and i can't get him to eat it. I have try both cereals rice and oatmeal. I even try to mix fruit and veg in there. I can't get him to eat the fruit and veggies by themselves either. Any suggestion!

Answer 1

This was a question I had when my son was the same age. It turned out that he just wasn't ready. The swallowing reflex just isn't there. Wait a few days try again. Just keep trying every few days. At four months he should only be having rice cereal.

Answer 2

whatever you do do not put cereal in a bottle, you don't want to teach the kid to over-eat. Anyway, my ped told me to start my boys on cereal (rice first) mixed with formula (or breast milk) at 4 months old. Just follow the directions on the box for baby's first feeding, it should be pretty runny. Choose a time of day when he's content and not too hungry, but enough to want a small meal (they'll get frustrated if they're relaly hungry and not gettin a quick satisfaction like a bottle). Make sure they're in a high chair, seat, swing or whatever you want to feed them in all the time as long as they're kinda sitting up, and use those rubber coated spoons. In the beginning they'll suck on the spoon, which is fine b/c they're learning to get food in from a spoon, but they'll get the hang of it in a while. You're supposed to try 1 food at a time for 3-4 days (to check for allergies) go through cereals first, then stage 1 foods, veggies first! cuz if you give them the sweet fruit first they'll reject veggies, i started stage 2 at 6months, 3 at 9 months and graduates around a year, this will vary depending on the consistency your child likes and is ready for. Just be patient, babies have a sensitive palate and will be more interested in the cereal if it tastes more like their regular food (milk), cereals are more to teach them of different textures food can be.

Answer 3

Obviously he's not ready if he's not eating it. My son was on baby food at his 2 month check up per his dr's recommendations but my son was "advanced" for his age and still is. When I did start him I did rice mixed w his formula then we went to veggies, then fruits. They do make cereals for babies that have the fruits mixed in. My son liked those better then the box cereals I had to mix myself. Dont force your baby when he starts to show interest try again.

Answer 4

Do you mean ready as in eating it from a spoon? I started my baby on single grain rice cereal at 4 1/2 months, but I put it in her milk. I'd mix about 6 - 7 oz of milk with 2-3 tablespoons of cereal. Then I took one of her outgrown #1 Avent nipples and cut it wider so the cereal would go through. I cut it more if it wasn't coming out fast enough.

As for eating with a spoon, I gave her applesauce on a spoon, and she liked it so much it didn't take long for her to learn.

Answer 5

When I first started feeding my son solids, I tried a few times just with some rice cereal on a spoon, it took a few goes over a few weeks, a little messy as he was still trying to navigate his tounge etc, my advise is don't rush it, they don't stay babies very long, and trust him to let you know when he's ready for it, just try to provide the opportunity for him to get better at it and before you know it he'll be an expert in no time! Well, I hope its that easy for you! They are all so different.

Answer 6

At 4 1/2 months your baby probably isn't ready to swallow food - they push it out of their mouths at this point. Usually 6 months is when you can start them on cereal from a bowl. If your baby is really hungry after feeding try to put a scoop (or 2 if this isn't enough after a few tries) of cereal into the bottle of formula or breastmilk. You'll need to either buy a slightly bigger nipple or do what I did - take a knife and very slightly make the hole bigger. Good luck!

Answer 7

If he is not eating it, he is not "so ready." He's too little.

Try again in a month. At this point babies are just getting used to solids a little and playing- most of their nutrition is from breastmilk or formula the first year. I didn't start mine until they were 6 months.

Edited to add one food at a time- start with the rice. Talk to your Dr.

Answer 8

Your baby is too young. 6 months old is when to start with single grain rice cereal. Don't force your baby - you could end up creating permanent digestive problems for him.

Formula or Breastmilk is the only thing you baby needs up until 6 months of age.

Answer 9

He's definately not ready for fruit and veggies. He desn't really need cereal for at least another 2 weeks to a month. Keep trying.

Answer 10

Define ready? If he's ready for them he'd eat them. An infant's tounge at this age would push the food out because they are only suposed to be sucking at this age. Try again when he's a little closer to 6 months (the recomended age). He'll eat solids when he's ready. Can I just ask why you seem so intent on feeding him solids this early?