baby refuses cereal?

Question

My nearly 5-month old girl started off with cereal well a couple of days ago but now all of a sudden she refuses it. She starts crying when she sees the spoon. She has been down with a cold and is probably teething (can't say for sure though I do see some inflammation in the gums), but surely she would still want to eat ?? I am wondering if anybody has a clue.

Answer 1

Baby's swallowing mechanism is immature. Another reason not to rush solids is that the tongue and the swallowing mechanisms may not yet be ready to work together. Give a spoonful of food to an infant less than four months, and she will move it around randomly in her mouth, pushing some of it back into the pharynx where it is swallowed, some of it into the large spaces between the cheeks and gums, and some forward between the lips and out onto her chin. Between four and six months of age, most infants develop the ability to move the food from the front of the mouth to the back instead of letting it wallow around in the mouth and get spit out. Prior to four months of age, a baby's swallowing mechanism is designed to work with sucking, but not with chewing.this is tongue-thrust reflex
Easy tip:If she is already using a pacifier, after each baby spoon offer her pacifier immediately , so that she knows how to push the food inside, after she masters this skill, you may gradually reduce the pacifier.

Answer 2

Believe it or not it can take 20 trys or more before a baby actually "likes" eating. It's a completely new thing for them and will take a while to get used to. They have to learn to master a different reflex becuase swallowing cereal is different than sucking on a bottle. It took me about 10 trys and switching the cereal to baby oatmeal before my daughter would eat. She would cry, scream even, and gag but now she's a pro. She's starting fruits and veggies this weekend. Just dont keep forcing it on her if she does scream or gag. Take that as her signal to stop and try again later. I've noticed that if you feed him/her in between bottles it's best. They're not starving and wanting a baba(never try to feed solids when she is screaming for a baba) and she wont starve if she doesnt eat the cereal. Just be patient and give her time to adjust. I wish you luck

Answer 3

If she's teething, anything goes. I have the hardest time getting my daughter to eat if her gums are sore. Maybe you should try some anbesol on her gums before you try to feed her. Also, since this is new to her, don't feed her the cereal if she's really hungry. Give her some of the bottle, and then try the cereal. If she's not feeling well, she might not eat it at all. Just keep trying!

Answer 4

That's very typical. Every time your baby takes a step forward, if she encounters a cold or feels pain from teething, she will regress a little. As soon as she's feeling well again, she will start eating cereal again. This will happen for the rest of her life! Two steps forward, one step back. Just be there to encourage her to push forward, and be a soft place for her to land.

Answer 5

Around the time my baby was introduced to solids he developed an ear infection and reacted similarly to how your daughter is acting. Has she had a fever? It could possibly be related. Now my other two babies were like that as well but for different reasons. Some days they are just not interested in their food and you just have to be patient. No need to worry though she's getting all the nutrients she needs from her breastmilk or formula.

Answer 6

I actually have a 5 month old daughter as well she is teething but still eats........I found that she cried when I tried feeding her plain oatmeal or rice cereal...........so I asked my doctor what to do and he said that there is oatmeal and rice cereal in baby food jars that have applesauce and sometimes bananas added in them......so I tried those with her and she loves them......she blows bubbles and gets excited when she eats.........I would try those and see how she reacts.......I don't know if you have ever tasted the plain oatmeal or rice but there is no taste to them........I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Answer 7

If she doesn't feel well and is taking the breastmilk or formula as normal, don't push the solids.

Think about this - if you feel cruddy and/or have a toothache - food really doesn't appeal to you, does it? Same for her.

As long as she's taking the bottles or breast fine and giving you wet diapers, don't sweat it. Wait a week and try again. OR, try giving her a little Tylenol about 30 minutes before feedings and see if that makes her more receptive - helpful if you think she's getting teeth.

Answer 8

5 months is still really early for solids. Teething and illness can both cause a baby to not want solids (my 15 mo old is nursing as i type because hes teething)

Wait at least a month and try again with FRESH food. Mushed banana, or avocado... she may not be interested until 7 or 8 months though. Don't force anything on her.

Answer 9

When chlidren are ready for solid food, they will tell you. She may have been feeling adventurous before and now she's not because she's not feeling well. Go back to your pre-cereal routine until she expresses an interest in food, like grabbing for the spoon, etc.

Answer 10

Maybe the spoon does hurt her gums. Why don't you try using your finger to feed it to her. It may sound gross, but just try it. You might mix a little fruit with it, too, to see if she likes it better that way. If she still refuses to eat, call the ped. He/she will have ideas about what to do. Good luck!