My 6 month old is refusing to eat cereal, pureed fruits, or anything besides breastmilk. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

you have asked such an important and great, simple question here!

so many mommies think that cause the dr. says "ok start offering these foods now" that there must be something wrong if baby does not want them..... not many are great mommies to ask when it comes to what to do though.....

I am not sure if many pediatrician's actually tell anyone this, unless asked.... solids introduced now is mainly for the experience... to introduce various tastes, textures and offer more calories... but some babies are just not ready... that does not mean anything at all is wrong...

quite the contrary.... it means your milk is enough for the little tyke
you do still want to offer variety... the answerers who say to add your milk to the mix? that is exactly how I was taught to offer the first feedings... and so milked down they could almost drink it... like a soupy broth..... the taste is one they are familiar with so as long as it is offered when the baby is hungriest? baby should accept it..... pick the meal that your angel is hungriest..... for mine it was always around lunch.... also add in the factor when you have the most time.. this should be a fun experience for you and baby a learning/growing time... which will be messy as he/she gets a little older.....

only have the one time daily for the first few weeks or months even..... go slow, one new food weekly if your baby does not seem to be readily accepting of solids.... after the second or third time around I find even foods they act like they do not like at first? they "get used" to and find they like it....

new things scare me... why wouldn't they scare a baby?

your baby may take only one or two bites and then want to have nothing to do with any more but still want to nurse.... 6 months old the main source of nutrition should still be either bottle or breast milk with solids introduced slowly... just for the experience.. not nutrition as of yet

please do not starve your baby by offering to nurse less... offer the solids first; at the chosen mealtime.... and then after clean up and changing offer milk.. bottle or cup or breast....

here are a few great sites, the first one is nestle carnation the very best one for foods, intro to them that I have found over the last six to eight years.... the others are ones I have enjoyed and found informative as well though...

http://www.verybestbaby.com/Public/Default.aspx

http://www.babycenter.com/

http://www.gerber.com/home

thank you for taking the time to read this
hope I was able to help
good luck

Answer 2

Your baby may not be ready for food yet. So, you might want to try again later. If your baby has a cold or an ear infection they can be less interested in food. Nutritionally, a baby doesn't absolutely need anything other than breastmilk or formula until the age of 1, but your Dr. may want you to supplement your baby's diet with vitamins for iron and fluoride. Also when you are first introducing foods, your baby might get frustrated because it is not what they are used to so it's advisable to not try it on an empty stomach when the baby is more likely to get upset about something new. First nurse and once the baby is content then try the food. I wait for my babies to start "begging" when we are eating. I thought my 4 month old had started to beg a little and tried food for 2 days and decided I was wrong. So, I quit and will try again later, maybe in a few weeks or so.

Answer 3

My answer is from recent experience with this. My daughter just turned 7 months on Mar. 2 and she didn't want anything to do with anything but formula until a week ago. I tried food a couple of times when she was 5 months and again when she was 6 months but she would not eat it. So I left it alone until she turned 7 months and tried it again and withing two weeks she is not only eating cereal but jars of stage 2 food and loving it. The doctor should tell you that you have nothing to worry about and that your baby will eat when he is ready. A baby doesn't need anything else until they are 12 months old so you don't need to worry.

Answer 4

Saying a child should begin eating solids at 6mo is a "Guideline".
Your baby is trying to tell you he/she is NOT ready yet. Wait another month then try again.
Breastfeeding is OPTIMAL nutrition for your growing baby and he/she needs NOTHING more until well after the first year. Your breastmilk constantly changes to suit the needs of your growing baby :)
None of my three children wanted anything to do with Table Foods until they were old enough to eat it themselves, around 10mo.
You might also want to try some wholesome "real" foods instead of the pureed/cereal variety. If your baby can't have bits from your Family's table, then, in my opinion, they are too young to start.

Just relax. Enjoy the benefit that nursing has in terms of Perfect Nutrition. Nursing into Toddlerhood has its benefits in the nutrition realm as well, especially when our kids are picky eaters, its a healthy "fall back" to know they are always getting what they need :)

Answer 5

One of my babies loves food - stares us down when we eat anything and gobbles up any cereal we feed her. The other baby (both 6 months) is not really interested in eating yet. I think you just feed them when they are ready. The only thing my little non-eater is interested in are those net things and I put soft pear or banana and he sucks on that. Otherwise he will only take a bottle.

I have a friend that breast fed and hr daughter didn't eat until she was 10-12 months. I think you offer it, but then let them decide when they are ready.

Every baby is so different! Good luck and be patient!

Answer 6

Keep trying! Use breastmilk when mixing up the babyrice and add a little to the pureed fruits to encourage yr baby, but the main thing is - just keep trying!!

Answer 7

My son also refused solids and as such was exclusively breast-fed until he was 9 months old.

Just because you CAN start them on solids at 6 months doesn't mean you HAVE to start them on solids at 6 months.

Maybe have someone else try to feed him (you smell like the good stuff).

I went back to work when my son was 9 months old and asked Daycare for suggestions on getting him to eat solids. She told me "Why worry about it? You're going back to work right away, why fight with him? Just enjoy your time together."

That was some of the best advise I ever took.

Answer 8

6 months is still a bit young for some infants to start solid foods. Breast milk is best anyways so at least you know he/she will be getting a healthy diet (depending of course how well you eat)
Wait a little longer for his/her immune system to develop and his hunger/apetite develops, this may be an advantage for you, less worries/chances of developing a food allergy or having an over picky eater.

Answer 9

ok - I just read some other people's advice and was SHOCKED that some people suggested cutting back or (gasp) taking away breastmilk entirely. PLEASE remember that you need to be breastfeeding just as often as you usually do, as it is still the MAIN source of your child's nourishment. Introducing the foods are only a supplement.

Answer 10

Its fine, just give up trying for a week or so and come back to it. You aren't going to get anywhere trying to force feed. Breast milk actually contains everything a baby needs for the entire first year of life, so your child isn't going to get malnourished.