His doctor said to try some baby food, but he is pushing the spoon out with his tongue. Is this a sign that he is just not ready?
2007-08-20 10:48:40 · 17 answers · asked by Bryson's Mommy 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Signs of readiness for solid food
Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for.
• Can hold head up
• Sits well in highchair
• Makes chewing motions
• Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)
• Shows interest in food
• Can close mouth around a spoon
• Can move food from front to back of mouth
• Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue
• Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day
• Is teething
The above came from babycenter.com. It is a great site for all things pregnancy, baby, toddler, etc.
Back to your issue, I would say if the tongue reflex is still that strong, wait a few days or even a week and try again. By about 6 months, this reflex should be all but gone.
Hope this helps!
2007-08-20 10:55:48 · answer #1 · answered by Heather 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, its your choice really and their is no wrong or right so to speak. Does his try to grab your food when you eat or things like that? MY son is the same age and was doing that so I started him on cereal a few weeks ago. I just give him a few spoons in the morning. I also tried adding carrots last week but did not feel like he was ready so I stopped and just did milk and then this week started up again. Tonight for dinner I gave him a few bites of cereal and made him some pea baby food and gave him a few bites of that, he loved them and no upset tummy. You really will know when your baby is ready. You can tell trust me if your not sure then dont bother bc hes fine only drinking milk until 6 months. I agree to make your baby food at home, I will be! I also even make the cereal at home but I switch back and forth bc the store kind has a lot of iron but I use the organic cereal.
2016-05-18 02:48:28 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The baby has to learn how to eat from a spoon. Put small amounts on the spoon. Use a rubber coated type of spoon. Just swipe the food from under his lip when he thrusts it out and put it back in until he has finished a spoonful. Soon he will get the hang of it. Be patient.
Also, strained foods are designed to break down with saliva. Put what you think the baby will eat in a small dish and discard it after feeding is over. A half jar is a good typical amount. Otherwise, the food will liquifiy if you feed directly from the jar. Refrigerate the remaining food and heat it to room temperature before feeding it again. Test it in the bend of your arm so you won't burn the baby. Your wrist is not as sensitive.
All babies thrust food out until they learn to hold it and swallow.
2007-08-20 10:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by amazingly intelligent 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's actually best to wait until 6 months. Either way, at first all babies usually push the spoon out, since it's a new feeling for them. Eventually they will take the food from the spoon. It takes practice.
2007-08-20 10:52:25 · answer #4 · answered by Melissa 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That is called the Tongue-Thrust Reflex.
If your baby is still tongue-thrusting that means he is NOT ready for solid foods. It has nothing to do with his size, it has to do with a developmental milestone. Don't FORCE him to eat when his body isn't ready, that's harmful.
They need to be able to sit up and to be able to push the food back with his tongue instead of pushing it out.
Try again in a few weeks if you insist on feeding him solids this early.
From Dr. Sears linked below:
"In the first four months the tongue thrust reflex protects the infant against choking. When any unusual substance is placed on the tongue, it automatically protrudes outward rather than back. Between four and six months this reflex gradually diminishes, giving the glob of cereal a fighting chance of making it from the tongue to the tummy. Not only is the mouth-end of baby's digestive tract not ready for early solids, neither is the lower end."
2007-08-20 12:00:43 · answer #5 · answered by maegs33 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They should actually wait until they are 6 months. If you have food allergies in your family you should wait until closer to 1. Babies push the spoon out b/c they aren't used to it. He may even try sucking on it. It just takes some time. :) Oh, and remember introduce foods slowly, 1 new food per wk. So you can watch for allergic reactions. Give him only single foods first, nothing w/ more than 1 ingredient. And never give babies any sugar/salt/additives-they don't need it. Also, rice cereal is best as a first food.
2007-08-20 10:58:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, if he's pushing the spoon out he's probably not ready yet. They really recommend waiting until at least 6 months to introduce solids now. I guess their digestive system is more mature and ready to accept solids at 6 months. Also, a kid who may have potential allergies may refuse food until their bodies are ready. If you think that's possible, just wait until he's ready.
I started my daughter on solids 2 weeks ago, on her 6 month birthday. She lapped it right up, and loves it. So, I know she was ready for solids. Don't feel the need to rush it! Believe me, it's more work for you anyway. He'll let you know when he's ready.
2007-08-20 10:59:29 · answer #7 · answered by SAHMommy 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They all do that when they're first learning to eat from a spoon. With my first, we started solids at 4 months (gerber rice cereal). It took him about 1 month to figure it out. With my second, we started him on rice cereal when he was almost 6 months old. It took him about 2 weeks to figure it out.
If your baby had doubled his birth weight, can hold his head up, and is hungry even after 32 ounces of formula or breast milk, he's probably ready to start solids.
Have fun and take lots of pictures and video. They're so funny when they first learn to eat. And the faces they make when they don't like the taste are just precious.
2007-08-20 10:54:24 · answer #8 · answered by mari m 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It took my daughter a while to get used to getting feed with a spoon. I guess she just didn't like the way it felt. I think your baby is ready but just needs some time to adjust to it. try different foods to see if that's is the problem. try not to bottle feed before feeding. Baby might not be hungry. Good luck.
2007-08-20 10:53:49 · answer #9 · answered by chuchua1984 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, he is used to sucking his food. It is just his reaction. Don't be too pushy or expect him to eat a large quantity. Just give him a few bites at a time to get him used to eating from a spoon. Also, you may want to try a different kind if you haven't already. He may not like what you are giving him.
2007-08-20 10:54:02 · answer #10 · answered by Sugarcookie 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋