How do you get a 9 month old to eat her solid foods?

Question

I have a 9 month old that doesn't really eat solid foods. She doesn't take the same amount of milk that she used to, but won't eat much either. If she eats she will only try 2 or 3 kinds of foods. I try to give her more choices and varieties of food, but I am at a loss on how to get her to eat. She was 5 lbs. at birth and is on the small side now. Help me please.

Answer 1

Patience and practice. Don't force it. I've read that you only try with a few things until she gets used to it before you try with new things. Try something sweet like pureed fruit, and yogurt, yum yum.

Baby cereals are what you start out with. They are kind of sweet too. Mash a banana in it and mix with milk.

Make sure the food isn't too cold or too hot. Mix well.

Answer 2

She will eat more solids when she is ready. There are studies showing that it is safe and healthy to continue breastfeeding only with no solids up to at least 12 months. The 6 month start solids thing is based on research by baby food companies! Don't worry too much, just try a variety of things and don't let on to baby that you're worried. Good luck!

Answer 3

My son was the same way. She will do it when she is ready. All of a sudden one day my son ate like crazy. Now he eats more than my 3 year old does. What are you feeding? My son would not eat the cereal. He loved sweet potatoes and pears. Try to mix it up a bit and she will start eating soon. She might even like the new fruit puffs they sell in the baby food isle. They are kinda like Cheerios but softer.

Answer 4

Keep offering them to her. However, if she's got some teeth and you're still giving stage 1, try stage 2 or so - sometimes babies get tired of the mush and want something closer to "real" food. But, don't force her to take solids - they do it when they're ready. As long as she's taking 24-32oz of formula or breastfeeding regularly, it's perfectly fine.

Answer 5

Take your time; it may be best for you to prepare the foods instead of feeding her commercial baby food.

I used to put 10 pears on the windowsill, let them ripen, then steam them for 3 minutes and mash them with a potato masher. I'd put one serving hin her bowl, and the rest into an ice cube tray.

She loved defrosted or fresh-prepared pears, mashed banana, and other fresh fruits. I would grate apples and steam them to make a fresh chunky applesauce; she loved that too!

I chopped fine and steamed her vegetables too, and gave them to her with a little rice cereal. I never bought commercial baby food, and whenever anyone else offered her processed foods, she turned her nose up at them.

She's 25 now, and still loves fresh veggies!