Infant Baby Food - Knoxville, TN

You might want to try some of the combo foods such as "apples and ham". I can't think of the others. My peditrician suggested that with both my girls, because the plain "meats" are so bland. They both ate the combo foods really well, but would not eat the plain meat, even mixed with veggies or fruit.
Hope this helps. Good luck

My son won't eat the meats unless it's mixed with veggies!!! The smell nasty and taste!!!!! My ped said that formula or breast milk is the main thing right now and worry too much if they won't take actual food!!!!

My son refused to eat any baby food meat, especially gerber! The Dr. told me not to worry, to supliment with milk and try things like the mac-n-cheese baby food. My son knew he didn't like meat. Now almost three, he is just starting to eat it (we have been suplimenting a 1/2 flintstone vit daily). Don't worry. I don't think we would like the meat either if it was that processed (or whatever they do to it).

I went through the same thing with my twins. Our nutritionist said baby food is really just a tool to teach babies how to eat. Your baby should be getting all the vitamins and nutrients he needs from his formula.
When my boys did this, I found the things that they did like and stuck with just a few varieties. One of my boys still gags every once in while and it's usually something too thick or chunky for him or just something he doesn't like. In that case, I won't feed it to him for a couple of weeks and when I try it again, he usually forgets that he tried to push it away. Just try to be patient and it will all work itself out.
K.

Hi S.
My daughter is 7 and a half months old. I started trying to give her baby food at 4 months. She would not have any of it. Not the fruit or veggies. She would gag and spit food out. I gave her time to make sure that it wasn't just that she didn't know how to eat solids. She really didn't like the baby food. So against what I thought was ok, I started giving her real food. She LOVES it. I followed the same rules as baby food. (1 new food every 4-7 days...)I give her bread, eggs, beans and peas, broccoli, noodles, etc. She loves it. If your baby is still drinking his bottles, then he is getting the nutrients he needs. My pediatrition said that table food is ok at my baby's 6 mo check up. I hope this helps.
A.

I have heard that it can take a child ten times of trying it before they will actually eat it. I did this with my daughter, she loved most of her food, but it took time for her to get used to the texture and flavor. I tore my hair out trying to get her to eat. When I calmed down and stopped forcing the issue she started eating better. Try giving your baby the food he doesn't like once a week, not everyday. Don't force the issue. It just takes time to get used to the new food. Also try stage to, some children prefer more texture than just the smoothness of stage 1.

You can try making your own baby food. It's really easy and all you need is a steamer basket and a food processer or blender. This website has great,easy recipes!
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com
You can try giving him tofu as an alternative to meat.
I wouldn't sweat it too much. My baby is 8 months old and some days she eats great and then others she wants nothing to do with solids. It's just a learning process and it sounds like you are off to a good start.

At this young age you are right to give your child formula or breastmilk as their primary source of nutrients. My dd did not like meat wehen I tried to introduce it at 6 months old, she actually ate it last night for the first time. As far as making a face at the fruit my dd does the same thing. Some fruits are too tart for them. I mix those fruits with her cereal in the morning and she doesn't mind.
At 6 months she refused green veggies. I now give her stage 2 which has carrots and peas mixed together, this seems to work.
You are doing well, hang in there:)

Hi. My dr's went by the same "rules" and my children were big so when I felt they were ready to start solids I started them. Have you ever tasted or even smelt the meat LOL Neither of my kids would eat it (even mixed) and they weren't even too crazy about the stage 3 foods (esp ones w/ meat).. I wouldn't worry about it.. If he's getting enough from his milk and fruits and veggies he will be fine.. The only way I can suggest for him to eat different things is to try them when he's more hungry.. Say if his lunch is his "hungry" time to try them then and not when it's just "time to eat".. If he's really hungry he might eat it and see that he likes it.. What type of stuff (besides the meat) doesn't he like?? Is it certain fruits?? Maybe they are bitter to him. Have you tried warming them just a bit?? That helped w/ my son (he was used to warm milk why not warm food)... Just like us babies do have acquired tastes. Good Luck and if you need more help or want to chat feel free to send me a message :)

My son would not eat any meats either. He would eat fruits and baby ceral and that was it. I worried my self to death. When he was old enough to eat solid food he would not eat anything but cheese. The doc had me try everthing and nothing worked. I would like to say he is almost 9 now and has been heathy and has had no affects, so I would keep giving new foods but don't worry yourself sick like I did.

S.,
Just a suggestion. My oldest 2 would not eat baby food at all. I got a baby food grider (the manuel kind) and ground up the food we ate. Add a little water if too thick. My youngest would eat baby food which I used as a convinence. I got so used to making it I continued with her. You can find those grinders at Toy's R Us. Many doctors say watch the spice....I only watch real spicy (hot) foods with my youngest. Just so you know, the meat they produce by the baby food companies is awful, I have tasted it. If you make your own and he will most likely eat it because it has more flavor. Ask your doctor about eggs. I remember mine eating eggs....off my plate around 6 to 7 months. Just an idea. Making your own baby food is cheaper. Also you can get little containers and put them in the freezer and use them later. You can bring a little plate and bowl to the table and let him watch you make his food and then it will be like he is trully joining ya'll at the dinner table. It is very easy. You can also take it with you to a resturant. Hope this helps.

My kids wouldn't touch the meats. They however would eat the ones that you buy that are mixed. ie. Ham and apples. I don't know why but they would. I would try buying a jar or two of those and seeing what he does. My youngest would not eat anything that had cherries in it. He is 4 and to this day he will spit a cherry at you if you try to feed it to him. (it was cute when he was little because he would make a very funny face and gag) I know I am a mean mommy. LOL I would just keep trying different foods. If you find one that he really likes stick to it and you might even try mixing it with one that he doesn't care for. Good luck.
M.

It is my understanding that your baby is getting all of his nutrition from formula/breastmilk. Offering solids is great at this age, and works to get him used to textures and flavors, as well as provide additional nutrients. I wouldn't be too concerned about his "pickiness". He is getting used to a lot. I would just keep offering the meats every few days or so. It is amazing how one day a child will turn his nose up at a food, and the next, he'll love it. He's just doing what babies do. Have fun.

S.. I think it has to do with the texture of the meat and probably the taste. Have you tasted that baby food. (yuck) I would give the baby some more time to get some teeth and grabbing skills in and try those little meat sticks (around 9-12 months) The baby will be fine with the fruit veggies and formula. Just keep trying every month to see if anything changes.
Jen

My son was not picky about any fruits of veggies but would not touch the plain meats either. I have yet to meet a baby who would. After all they smell like cat food. He would eat the mixed ones like Turkey and Sweet Potatoes or Ham and apples and Chicken and mixed veggies. Even then is was about 8 or 9 months before we got to those.

You are right, everything that they need right now is in breastmilk and formula, so him getting the needed amount of protein isn't really an issue. I like you had the same issue with my baby she's 1 now. But she hated all meat baby food. Can you blame them though??? It smells like dog food. So I would buy her the mixed ones like apple's and chicken the stage 2 foods. They are the same consitency just a blend of foods. If you are really concerned about his protein intake you could also puree some of your own meat, like boiled chicken. Sometimes my daughter would go on strike and would stop eating a certain food, but if I waited and tried that same food in a week she would love it... silly kids

hth
T.

We followed the same schedule you are, but my doctor told me to avoid baby food meat products, because they would "gag a maggot." Apparently they are very gross (my mom said I wouldn't eat them either and I'm definitely not picky at all). My suggestion is to grind up meat if you really want him to eat meat right now. Otherwise, wait a couple of months when he can mash food in his gums and teeth (if he has any) and feed softer meats at that time. Meat is the least important of the diet (my son is 14 months and my dr said meat is still not as important as the other things).

Hi S., I am an older Mother with 4 grown children now but I also have a 6 year old and my 4 year old grandson. As far as baby food goes well I didn't use it! Regular food is what I did and my kids ate great and I never really had that problem. another thing is that food mostly the meat has the worst taste, try it yourself and you will understand why he doesn't like it. just take some of the food you cook and if needed blend it up some but he will be a much happier little boy with will food that taste great! Good Luck!!

I have two girls one 12 & the other 4. By the time they were 6 months old they were off the bottle and baby food. I gave them things like mashed potato's, oatmeal, grits. Pretty much anything we eat just a little softer. They both loved it and wasn't real picky because they got to eat the same thing Mommy and Daddy ate. I didn't like what the doctors told me because they don't know my child as well as I do. Neither one of then liked baby food because it wasn't filling enough. Just give it a try.

I would be very careful mixing his foods with stuff he doesn't like. If you continue to do this he will associate those good foods with tasting bad and will quit eating those as well. at 6 months old it is not a big deal if he is not eating those "meat" type foods. Don't give up on them completely though. Try giving him meats once or twice per week. If he doesn't eat them then don't worry about it. He will grow out of it. Are you trying different kinds of meats? Like vienna sausage and things like that? That is a good finger food that will help him with his motor skills as well.

Normally babies do not eat meat untill 9 months. My son would eat the meat mixed with something else but my daughter would not touch it. Once she got into the stage two foods it was not an issue. Also, he may be ready for stage two foods, whenever my daughter changed food stages she would spit out the food. Or you could try mixing the baby food with cereal just to thicken it up a bit (it also changes the flavor but not to much).

Have you ever tasted that stuff? I don't blame the baby one bit for not eating it. Until we started my little girl on table foods, the only thing she would eat was certain fruits and sweet potatoes. Don't push it on the baby, they know what they like and don't.

I believe he is starting to realize that there are other things to eat out there and learning what he likes and what he doesn't. however, have you ever tried the meat baby food?? it completely is bland and kinda nasty. when my boys were eating the meat kinds, i would heat it up in the microwave for 20 seconds and add a very little salt and pepper to help with the taste. Heating it up will help the oils that have settled to the top mix in a little better. good luck S.

If it was me I wouldn't force it, put it down and try again in a couple weeks, if he still won't eat it, give up. I wouldn't eat it either. The smell alone is awful. It smells like dog/cat food. None of my boys ate it. I tried with the first one but it was so awful that neither the sitter nor I could stand it we tossed it. My boys all did fine without it. 98-99 percentile without it. Good luck.

I started my kids (4) on solids when they were 4-5 months old. Nothing wrong with that. You're doing the right thing for your baby. Every baby is different. Keep giving your baby a variety and he'll come around. You've probably heard that it takes tasting something 10 times before you know whether you like it or not. Just keep trying. It's also been said that a baby/child will eat when he's hungry and stop when he's full. My firstborn would starve himself until he got sick if he thought he might not like what was on his plate. Just keep trying.

Just something to try. My son is 6 months old also and I noticed he also started "gagging" at some of the fruit dishes I gave him. What I finally figured out is that he was actually gagging because I would give him ones that were too thick. For example if he had anything with bananas or cereal mixed in with the fruit I had to mix in a little water or juice to thin it out and he stopped gagging. Try that and see if it helps.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. My son didn't like the meat foods at first either. I think it is just so different that it takes some getting used to. I don't remember exactly but I know at some point he started eating little pieces of hotdog like crazy (my husband worked at a little hot dog shop at the time). It's a very different texture from the fruits and it take a while to get used to for them.

I guess the only advice I can give you is keep at it. I was told by my doctor that sometimes it takes thirty times of taking a certain food before they realize they like it. I also have a six and a half month old and with her I mix her formula and some cereal in with her food and she likes it just fine so far. Maybe that could also work with you. My first daughter did not eat baby food at all she just didn't like it she just went straight to table food when she got off her bottle.

hi there, you seem to be doing a great job. My son just turned 6 months and has had the same gag reaction to some foods. I come to realize that he may be too full. I had the same problem about feeding him the meat only and he didn't like it at all either. I mean it smells like dog food (lol). So I tried the stage 2 mixed food like turkey/sweet potatoes or carrots/beef. He just gulped it right down. I would just keep working with him. Some days they'll eat the peas and some days they want, just keep introducing it. Let him try it all, get a variety...chicken and rice..chicken noodle good luck

My son didn't like the meat foods either. Who would? They smell like dog food! Anyway, I gave him tofu. It's weird, I know, if you're not used to it, but it's packed with protein, it's flavorless, and it's soft. You can buy the kind that's already diced or buy the extra firm and cut it up yourself. I usually put some in a container in the fridge, and then I freeze the rest in water, because you are supposed to change the water everyday, so I just freeze serving sizes of it. My son is 5 now, and his sister is 3, and they eat it all the time. Hope it helps.
J. W.

I know what you are going through but with my son it was vegetables. now he eats meats but won't eat bread. try the combo baby foods or try showing him that it is safe to eat by trying it first.

Hello,

My daughter never really liked any of the baby food meats.I think it is the texture they are not sure of. I wouldn't worry about it because once he gets teeth and gets a little older he probably will eat meat off the table. Our daughter just started eating meat off of our plate we would just cut it in very small pieces. Now she loves steak and chicken. He is getting what he needs through the formula. All the baby food does is just help to supplement. Hope this helps. Thanks, C.

My son wouldn't touch plain meats either, but he loved the ones mixes with friut. Apples and ham, pears and ham, stuff like that. The best place I found to get them was at Krogers or Publix