HELP! I don't know what to do with my baby!? (she's almost 10 months old)?

Question

She's just difficult, or at least it's hard for me to figure out how to do things...
Examples:
She doesn't want to hold her sippy cup, no matter how much I try to encourage her to do it.
She won't let me read to her, she snatches the book and starts chewing on it.
She won't let me feed her! yet she won't eat finger foods, and if I give her a spoon to feed herself, she just bangs on the tray and makes a mess... she won't let me help her put food in the spoon, so I'm afraid she's not getting enough food in her belly...
I try talking to her pediatrician, but he's not very "comunicative" (a.k.a, helpful)

What can I do?...

Thanks!

Answer 1

It sounds like she's a bit of an independent spirit. You should be proud..It is a sign of intelligence that she wants to do her own thing. As far as getting enough food, she'll know when she's full. Appetites in kids can fluctuate in the first few years as they go through growing and dormant phases. As far as your pediatrician goes, if you feel you aren't get enough from him/her. Switch. You need to feel comfortable talking to your child's doctor. You need to feel like they understand where you are coming from, and they provide care and comfort when you and your child need it.

Answer 2

Maybe try a different pediatrician if you are not very happy with the one you now have. Also...she is 10 mos. old. She's just a baby. She's learning and trying to be independent. Trust me, if they're hungry, they'll let you know! Just try and find something she really likes to eat and give her that. A sippy cup at 10 mos. old is good to begin, but don't expect her to just start using it correctly. She will be messy. Just keep showing her "how" to use the cup and what it is for and before long, she'll catch on. As for the book, maybe it doesn't keep her interest. Her attention span is very "short" at that age. She's probably just interested in pictures right now, so find a book that really captures her.

Answer 3

SLOW DOWN !!!

Your kid will use a sippy cup when she's ready. If she doesn't like the one you have, experiement with different kinds. There are so many different shapes and sizes and colors, with different spouts and everything. Many babies prefer the feel of one over another.

It is NORMAL for her to snatch the book and start chewing on it. She's teething! My 13-month old son still won't let me read to him, either. Just read what you can, when you can, and if she grabs the book, let her have it. Use the chewable books made out of fabric or foam and let her chew on it. She needs relief and besides that, babies learn and explore with their mouths. She's showing her interest by chewing on it.

My son won't let me feed him, either. He started refusing baby foods around 10 or 11 months and now gets finger foods. But he still won't let me put anything in his mouth. Not to worry, finger foods aren't supposed to be your baby's sole source of nutrition at this age, anyway! My son is breastfeeding and gets everything he needs at the breast. Finger foods are just for fun and entertainment while everyone else is eating. Sometimes he actually eats some of it. Other times, he just flings it around. Guess what? Babies do that! It's normal. If you're breastfeeding, your daughter is still getting everything she needs. And if she's on formula, she's still getting most of what she needs from formula.

And if your pediatrician can't reassure you that your baby is normal, it's time to find a new one. I discovered late in the game (when my second child was a year old already) how important it is to have a pediatrician you can trust. Just because you started out with one or because the one you have happened to be first on the list to choose from, doesn't mean you have the right one.

You're doing just fine, I think you just aren't getting any feedback about what's normal and so you are expecting more than you should out of your daughter. It would be a great idea for you to try to find a parents group in your area so that you and your daughter can get out of the house and socialize -- your daughter with other children and especially you with other parents -- so that you can find out what other babies her age are like!

Good luck!

Answer 4

First, don't be hard on yourself over it; there are always difficulties with raising children! :-)

One thing I noted right away with your examples is this: does she breastfeed or take formula? Until at least an infants first birthday, their main nutrition source should be mother's milk or formula. Introducing solids is good for developing tongue and mouth muscles for speech, but baby food should not be the main diet. Cow's milk is also difficult on babies because there are a lot of proteins to break down. It is possible that she is having difficulty with all the new foods (figuring out how to eat them and maybe intestinal distress too). A pediatrition will be able to better tell you what specific diet to follow with your child.

If you want to feed your daughter solids, a good tip is to give her a spoon for each of her hands so she can bang them, and have another spoon for yourself so you can feed her with it! (Same for books: give her an old one she can chew and keep one for yourself) If she is a particularly messy eater, get a "splat mat" or use an old blanket to sit on during feeding time so she can mess it up and you can throw it in the wash instead of scrubbing carpet or mopping after each feeding!

Another important thing to note: If your pediatrician is unhelpful, it's time to find a new one. You and your child and any future children deserve to be treated like the paying customers that you are... it is their job to serve you with the information you ask for, and if they can't, there are plenty of others. It sounds harsh, but it is important to have a good source for health info. when you need it. Ask other moms in your area who they see and if they like them... story-time groups at the library, parent support groups through local hospitals or community centers, or other similar activities are great places to meet other moms and ask.

Just remember to have patience and that this too shall pass.

Answer 5

Sounds like a 10 month old! I have a 10 month old too, he's not quite as difficult. He likes to throw his hands around at eating time. My hardest thing is changing his diaper/clothes without him moving around and screaming. I tell myself "this will pass". He likes the sippy cup every other day. Try the Nuby cup with the flexible nipple. It's a little less than 2 bucks.

Answer 6

You can relax! When she's thirsty, she will drink. When she's hungry, she will eat. When she chews on the book, story time is over (usually after 2-3 pages!). She is a normal 10 month-old. Pediatritions will not get involved unless the baby stops gaining weight, and you don't really want him involved. Dr. Sears says something like this: "Our job as parents is to serve nutritious food in creative, appealing ways. After that, it's up to BABY to eat the food." I have a feeling that once you stop worrying about food intake, she'll start to eat more. Good luck!

Answer 7

My child is also almost ten months. She sounds alot like yours. Mine will try to eat finger foods, but she shoves to much in her mouth and chokes.
She will not let me feed her with a spoon, but insists on trying to do it herself.
She likes to turn pages on books, and if you try to do it she will turn the page back, or take the book from you and throw it.
She WILL NOT crawl.
She will walk with help, but refuse to sit up sometimes. She will just fall back if you dont catch her.
All in all I think that most ten month olds are just trying to assert them selves, and see what they can do for themselves. They like to try new things, but yet be pampered and babied alot. She will eat when hungry. Leave the finger foods out, and she will try when she feels like it. They all learn at thier own pace.
If your pediatrician is not as helpful as you want then switch! You need someone who you can trust with your childs development, and if you are not satisfied then find another. Ask a friend, or another mom. Also try a moms website or group. You can learn alot from moms who have older kids.


Just as a side note. Most ten month olds can not spoon feed themselves, and cant drink from a sippy cup. Wait a little longer.

Answer 8

Just be patient. She is learning about her world and eating and sippy cups may not be high on her list right now. As long as she is healthy and not losing weight she should be fine. She will eat when she is hungry (provided she hasn't had failure to thrive or anything like that in the past).

Answer 9

*L* She sounds like a strong willed child. shes testing you. The reading to her, babies naturally want to put things in there mouth. Everything but whats supposed to. As for feeding her, she'll eat when she's hungry. If she's still getting formula or breastmilk, she's fine. She's going to be a very independant woman.

Answer 10

sounds like shes just being a baby, but maybe you should take a parenting class, for some support. Communities often offer them for free at health departments and through social services. each child is different so there isnt really a cut and dry answer.