My 13 month old son has never really been into solid foods. he is still breastfed, almost exclusively (no formula ever) as he never really wants solid foods. I'm trying not to force him but I'm getting worried. He won't let me feed him from a spoon at all. he'll purse his lips tightly and shake his head back and forth or he'll hit the spoon away. He's growing well and is thriving but I worry about his iron stores. His Doctors appointment is in two weeks so I will also be addressing this with his pediatrician... but would just like to know if anyone else had a baby who took this long to want solids??? He'll feed himself on occasion (cheerio's, pasta, etc.) but most of the time he only plays with the food or throws it on the floor. Everyone is telling me to wean him but I'd like it to be gradual and child-led. Any advice? Thanks.
2007-03-06 17:06:03 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I wouldnt worry yet. I have known babies who didnt take in much solid food until nearly 16 months.
They know what they need when it comes to food. As for the iron... Theres very little iron in breastmilk, but its very well obsorbed. By him refusing most other food, hes basically ensuring that his body is still able to obsorb most of the iron in your milk. The way they digest iron changes when they take in other foods.
I would really just offer high iron foods to him and when he is ready to eat them, he will. Try beans, scrambled eggs, sweet potatoes.... theres a list on kellymom (below).
I also reference dr jay gorden, he had some good info on this subject.
Do you know the signs of anemia? Brush up on them and just keep one eye out.
ETA:
Im sure you know this, but NO COWS MILK! It will leech the iron from his bowels.
2007-03-06 18:13:32 · answer #1 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm sure you have lots of pressure from others, but I'd say so far you are letting this be child-led and he is not wanting solid food at this time. I would probably try to wean him just a little bit by offering more fingerfoods when he is hungry, and not being so quick to nurse. On the other hand, he is only a baby once, and will start eating solids eventually and you will never have your nursing baby again, so if you don't want to wean him, DON'T. Just keep offering him things sometimes and at some point he will transition to solids. I have NEVER heard a mother say that she wishes she had weaned her baby earlier, but I have heard DOZENS say they wish they had nursed longer.
2007-03-06 17:18:50 · answer #2 · answered by Cris O 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you try to fed him solids and he refuses do you give in and brestfeed him? If so, you will be renforicing his behavior and this will go on not just with feedings but in evryday life for you and your child. Love your child but be a parent, make those tough choice and stick to them. Tough Love goes along way. For his lunch give him some solids if he does not eat it, don't give in , he will be hungry and knows the food is there ect... not if you combine solid and breast every meal, solid first breast 2nd if you dont alrdy pump. gets bottle not the breast.
2007-03-06 17:17:00 · answer #3 · answered by kkobani 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a texture thing. My daughter, when starting table food, was the same way. I would try smaller foods for him like mashed potatoes, small shell noodles, scrambled eggs,.....things that you don't have to chew and just slither down your throat. Good Luck!
2007-03-06 17:18:52 · answer #4 · answered by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe your child is trying to lead you to weaning but you arent seeing that. I would start weaning him from the breast - start using a sippy if you havent already. As he nurses less he should start to eat more if not then the doctor should be consulted.
2007-03-07 01:02:04 · answer #5 · answered by elaeblue 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The red flag that came up in my mind was the last term you used in one of the last lines of your question: "Child-led".
This is nothing against you, as a person, but that right there is the sole reason your son is not doing what you would like him to do. He is only 13 months old, and does not have enough experience in life to know what is best for him! Therefore, when you allow him to run his own schedule and decide when/what he's going to eat, it is rarely going to turn out in your favor.
My piece of advice to you is this, first and foremost: Be the adult in this situation, and let your son know what he's GOING to do, NOT what you would LIKE him to do. Because regardless of whether you believe it or not, children will ALWAYS find loop-holes in the way that you parent them--if they see that something can be taken advantage of, they will take advantage of it because they weren't taught any differently!
If you learn to take control NOW, and start instructing (instead of pleading/begging), you will find that he'll be more responsive to you as a parent, in the long-run. And that's not to say that it won't be uncomfortable for him, at first--because you have to keep in mind that this is something he's not used to experiencing with you--but it's not a bad thing for children to be outside of their comfort zones every now and then! Resistance will soon turn to obedience--I GUARANTEE it.
Another suggestion that I made to another mom on here was to read "On Becoming Babywise". The author of this book has made several sequels, including one that has advice for children up to two years old, I believe.
Happy parenting! :)
2007-03-06 17:21:02 · answer #6 · answered by Jenn 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
i would try food he can play ing and mash aroung..cherrio's and those puff things at stroe for toddlers....finger food is better at this age then spoon fed..it teahs the pinch grasp and hand eye. oh and i would lay off the milk... i would try pumping and giving his a sippy cup with that in it. he should also be starting whole milk so i would maybe start slowly mixing whole milk in to ur breast milk....it will help him like the taste.
2007-03-06 17:53:35 · answer #7 · answered by dragonwolf 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋