8Mth Old Baby Wont Eat.

Have you mixed stuff in the Oatmeal?? I had a couple of those stick on bowls, great fun to let them have the spoon and go to town, floor that's easy to clean is also nice!! and as others have said they eat, they don't eat-if they seem ok with it then ok.

A couple of things to keep in mind...

Breastmilk/formula is the main source of nutrition in a child's diet until the age of one. The foods she is eating now, are just to introduce her to foods and textures.

It can take up to 15 exposures to something new for a child to start to like it, both in taste and texture. She could just be kid that is sensitive to texture. This MAY be worth exploring as she gets older if she still seems picking.

More than likely, it is a stage and as long as she is having her bottle, she is fine. Just keep introducing those solids to her, some day she will surprise you and eat it!

Oops - I guess I should have read this before I posted my similar issue!

You might want to read my posting as well. I took my son to a speech therapist who specializes in food aversion - but he has never cared for any foods with a texture (table food/fruit/past stage 1 baby food). It seems like your baby is probably teething since she liked food previously. I think my son is teething as well, but he has never liked any textures.

It sounds like it is a pretty common issue around this age so I wouldn't worry, but talk to your pediatrician if it will ease your mind.

M.,

I always had trouble with my daughter eating when she was teething. If she ate foods for you before and had now stopped, there must be a reason and teething sounds likely to me. Just check in with your pediatrician and tell the doctor your concern. I am sure he/she will say as long as the child is getting enough nutrition not to worry, but keep offering food so she can pick up again when she is ready. Good luck!

J.

Dear M.,

The range at which babies are ready for solid food varies quite a bit. Your daughter needs the nutrition that comes from breastmilk or formula far more than she needs solid foods. Generally, when babies are ready for solids, they will show an interest. And, yes, teething can alter their eating habits. When she's ready, she'll eat again.

I ran into the same problem with both of my kids at about that age. One thing I learned was not to force the issue. Your baby may just be testing to see what happens when they don't want to eat. My son lived off of just bottles for months. I kept thinking I should be concerned, but my mom reminded me that a baby won't starve themselves. They will eat when they are hungry. Another thing to try is to maybe put the oatmeal, or other baby food down on their tray in a little bowl and give them the spoon. Your baby may want to try to eat it by his/her self. It could be teething too. Just experiment, but don't force your baby to eat. It will only frustrate you and upset your child.

I am sure teething has a part to play. I found that my daughter wanted to eat but she wanted to do it herself. Once I stopped trying the spoon and gave her very soft finger foods she started eating on her own. She is a year now and still prefers eating things by herself. I am working with her on the fork and spoon so she can learn to do that by herself as well.

I have heard that some people don't give baby food to kiddos under a year - only breastmilk. She might just be one of those babies who would fit that schedule!

My sister in law is having the same problem with her little boy and the doctors think that the problem has to do with textures. They think he doesn't like the texture of the foods and therefore won't eat them. It's driving her crazy but he's now 10 months and finally starting to try new things. I think that one thing that they made sure to check though was that his iron levels were o.k. Anyways, hopefully your baby will eventually catch on to eating. At least you know that your kid isn't the only one, right. Good luck.

Well, I have 3 kids, and my second child Emma started to do the same thing. I worried and worried,because it seemed to go on for way-way to long for it to be a "phase"- as her Doctor would describe it. It took her over a year to actually start eating "real food"- and now shes 3 years old and I can not get her to go more than 15 min. without telling me that shes hungry. No matter how much shes eaten 10 min. before that!!!- So Im sure some of whats going on is teething but mostly, Im sure its just a phase.

This is the same thing with my daughter. She is also 8months old and for the last 6 weeks has hardly taken any food. Prior to this she ate rice cereal, fruit, veggies...whatever we put in front of her. She takes the bottle fine but closes her lips and turns her head away when we try to feed her anything else. I think it is due to teething and I have been told this phase will pass, but yes, I think its normal. My pediatrician also recommended trying table foods and letting her self feed, so I think this is our next step.

I didn't start my oldest on solid foods until she was about a year. As long as your baby is still gaining weight and doesn't seem to be starving all the time, I wouldn't worry about the solid foods. Also, I have found that the best meal to try and introduce new things is breakfast- before they have any milk.
Teething could also be making her cranky and she wants the comfort of the breast to make it feel better. Peer pressure can also help- like eating the same time an older sibling eats so they can watch. Hope that helps- good luck.

Hi M.,

Because a baby's stomach lining is not fully developed until age one, feeding them table food can cause food allergies and impede the lining development. It could be that she is innately aware of this and refusing what she should not have.

Stick with rice cereal if you're going to continue to supplement bottle feedings, as it is most easily digestible.

Best wishes to you!

Warm Regards,
G.

I have a 9 month old who is the same way. He has never had any interest solid food and being fed by a spoon. He will eat if I let him feed himself most of the time. I just plop everything on his tray and he will go to town. He makes a huge mess but he at least he is eating. He doesn't really care for baby food so I just give him whatever we are eating and really mash it up. He still mostly prefers the bottle as well. My dr. said to just keep on trying food. Some kids just don't have too much interest in food at this age. Good luck to you. I know it is very frusterating.

you need to remember, liquid fills her tummy just like actual food, so make sure she hasn't just had a bottle when you try to feed her or she won't want to eat. Also, if she doesn't get a bottle for a while, eventually she be hungry right? That's when you feed her food!!!

I am a SAHM of 2 kids. I have to say I think it is normal. Both of my children went through times at all ages that they would not eat. It was because they were teething or not feeling well. Both of my children were breastfed so there were times that all it seemed I was doing was nursing. This too shall pass.

As you can see from the other responses, this is common around this age. Many babies start to want to self-feed, although they are not able to get much in! A great trick to try...put some cheerios on baby's tray and let her try to pick them up and feed them to herself. In the mean time, sneak in bites of baby food. I guarantee this trick works every time! Also, don't worry too much about solids, as the bottle does provide all the nutrients she needs until a year old. Starting solids now is just to help her get used to getting nutrition in other forms.

Don't worry, give it a couple of months. Most of my five didn't eat much until after one year. Food fights never work!