I have a 9-month-old who has been a picky eater since birth. I first introduced solid foods around 5 months and have been making my own baby food since then. Right from the start Jack has been very fussy and very unpredictable about eating solids: sometimes he'd eat great, other times nothing at all. Now, at 9 months, he's refusing EVERYTHING from a spoon and is eating only small bits of fingerfood including fruit, avocado, puffed cereal and cheerios, yams, cheese. It's almost like he's trying to assert his independence. I know his pureed food tastes great since I make it myself. Also, he'll eat from a spoon if we're somewhere with lots of distractions where he's not focused on the eating itself (ie the mall). He's even refusing yogurt now, which has always been our fall back food. He'll eat some bits of finger foods and seem like he really likes it and then all of a sudden refuse completely. He will, however, always take his bottle and seems to still prefer it to anything else. I've tried egg yolk, beans, tofu and a whole range of other finger foods that he just won't eat. Meal times have become tedious, prolonged, and unenjoyable as I sit with him and try to get him to open up without being too pushy. I'm worried he's not getting enough calories or proper nutrition and I really want meals to be enjoyable for all of us. Any suggestions/advice? (fyi: Jack is, and always has been, at the 50th percentile for weight). Oh, and another thing, when I was pregnant with him all I wanted was milk and had no appetite for anything else--wierd! Thanks!!
Hello J.,
Have you tried mixing what he doesn't love with something he does? For my son, its unsweetened applesauce. He doesn't care for egg yolk or chicken, but if I mix it with the applesauce he eats it without a problem. Good luck!
Do you eat with him? sometimes little ones like to eat what their parents are eating! It might help. Does he know you are aggravated? Just keep offering the food and he will eventually take it. You can even eat off of HIS plate. Just be consistent and it should help. Good luck!
My husband gave our son a spoon so he could "feed himself". I was doubtful, but when he had the utensils he was much more interested in what was going on. I of course had the other spoon. Don't stress about it. They can have days of seemingly not eating much for solid food, as long as he stays hydrated, can get all of his calories from whole milk. Just a phase.
Hi J.,
This too shall pass. In the meantime, enjoy your mealtime as a social time together. Put out a small amount of finger food and pureed as well, and if he eats fine. If he doesn't, don't even mention it. Ever. Not even a "Do you want a little more?" Food should not become a power struggle, but little children are experts at turning their parents anxiety about them eating enough into one. He will eat enough, honestly. Also, be sure to keep the bottles to a routine, appropriate amount. If he fills up on milk or juice, he will not be hungry for food. Once he has had his daily quotient of milk and juice, water is all he should have. But otherwise, he is just naturally asserting himself, and this is a good opportunity for you to practice not getting pulled into power games with him. I so hope you try this for a while, because then you can get back to enjoying mealtimes. And as I said in the beginning, this will pass. Good luck.
9 months is still really young. Some babies are just being introduced to solids at this point and it sounds like you are doing a great job with that. Every baby is different. Mine eats some chicken, some cheese, cheerios, rice, but not much else, except store bought baby foods. Babies really only need formula and or breastmilk until they are one. I think this is perfectly normal. Stick with formula or breastfeeding so that he can keep getting his nutrients and just keep trying regular food with him.
At this age it is all about learning to eat and exploring new textures. Your baby should be getting the bulk of his/her nutrition from breast milk or formula until 12 months. There are some people that don't even start their baby on solids until 12 months. So do not worry about nutrition. I also take Juice Plus and break open the capsules into my 9 month old's baby food (my doctor recommended) but he is not a picky eater. My 4 year old has always been a picky eater and because she has taken Juice Plus since she was able to eat solids I don't worry about her nutrition at all. I always make sure what is put in front of her is not junk if she eats it great if she doesn't no big deal. They go through different growth spurts and eat when they are hungry.
Some great suggestions already--just a thought, the recent complete refusal could be related to teething. As teeth come in, & gums get super sensative, sometimes feeding habits change radically. Babies may want to nurse more or less, chew more or less. I'd go along with what your other responders have written--make sure he's getting enough breastmilk/formula, keep offering food (but not to the point of stressing him or yourself) & don't worry.
You may find this site to be helpful:
Do not worry about this phase. He will begin to eat more when he is growing. Give him time. Sometimes babies will not even begin eating until well over the one year mark.
Don't worry! He is exploring, and he will eat if he needs to. If he is interested in finger feeding himself, let him do that, trying a wider range of foods. He may just really like that he can do that himself, and not want to be fed from a spoon at the moment. My daughter did the same thing, and some days still does (10.5months). We just give a few options (spoon and finger food) and try not to pressure her to eat if she doesn't want to. I'm sure this is just a phase for your son as he advances to self-feeding. Good luck!
Hi there,
We're in the same boat! Our daughter started eating when she was 6-months old and was a good little eater for about a month and a half. Now she's 9-months and won't eat anything! That means she's 100% breast-fed. She's big and healthy and happy, so I'm trying not to worry about it. Our pediatrician gave us some vitamins, but otherwise said not to worry, that she'll eat when she's ready. We try every day with different foods, textures, letting her feed herself (which just ends up in a huge mess), and I just try to remain calm and breezy about it, hoping she'll realize how tasty food is one of these days.
Sorry I can't suggest anything, but know there are others out there like you. I'll check back to see what other mommies suggest!
H.
I had the same problem with my now 12 month year old. It seems like he would only finger foods that we ate in front of him. Keep trying! We go through phases where he will eat alot and then very little. My guy started to refuse the bottle so If he's still taking that he is probably getting enough nutrition. Our menu usually includes about 4-8 differents things. When he loses interest we try something else. My guy likes mac and cheese(I'm not proud of this), dehydrated veggies, tofu, fruits- watermelon, cantelope, etc. He loves bread products. I usually spread veggie and protein purees on toast. Also when he gets a little older... boil pasta in either veggie or chicken stock. Good Luck!
There is a great children's nutritional supplement that will take the worry out of this - it can be mixed with milk, soy milk, water, etc. and it comes in vanilla and chocolate. Scientifically formulated, highly rated company, patented products - I'd love to give you more information! The head of the science board who formulates and tests everything is the same guy who developed ProSoBee and Enfamil - so you know it's more than safe. Put it right in his bottle for now since you know he'll take it!
Other foods you can try is super-nutritional French toast cut up in finger-sized bites: Use 1 cup soy or rice milk, 3 scoops soy or rice powder (I use Genisoy Soy Powder but have also used Peaceful Planet Rice Powder - but Genisoy has more protein, a little fat which they need, no sugar), and 2 eggs - blend really really well in blender. Use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the milk, blend, then add the rest, scraping down the sides to be sure all the protein powder gets mixed in and isn't stuck to the sides of the blender! I add cinnamon too instead of sugar. Use a really good whole wheat bread with holes in it - the batter gets sort of inside the bread, not just on the surface! I use Stop & Shop's Nature's Promise Flax & grain bread, but you can use any whole wheat bread he'll eat. Soak the bread, fry it up in a healthy butter substitute like Smart Balance, and then cool the slices. Freeze the extra slices (cut in half if it's easier) between layers of wax paper, then just pop out what you need and bake in the toaster oven or microwave until thawed and warm. My son - a picky eater - has eaten this for years and he's a healthy, strong, track star now just finishing high school!
You can make whole wheat pancakes with ground flax seed and oatmeal added, or wheat germ, and any fruit you think he would like (frozen blueberries, bananas, etc.) - or just plain. Use soy milk and add protein powder if you like,and of course eggs. Again, these are a big hit in our family. We also freeze them between layers of wax paper, then just heat up what we need. You only have to cook them every 10 days or so! Do a batch, and you're set for a while.
Try soaking your tofu in something to give it taste - a light soy sauce maybe, or anything with flavor.
You can try zucchini bread or banana bread - anytime you can add a protein powder or flax seed to baked goods, you boost the nutritional value. My son thought it was cake!
You can make healthy chicken nuggets with chicken tenderloins cut up, dipped in egg and then whole wheat bread crumbs, and browned up quickly in olive oil or canola oil, then finished in the oven. Crispy outside without a lot of frying. You can try adding sesame seeds and wheat germ to the bread crumb mixture.
Try oven-fried potatoes or sweet potatoes - cut up, drizzle with olive oil or canola oil, and bake at 375 for 40-50 minutes depending on size of chunks - take out when fork-tender. If you use thin-skinned or baby potatoes, you don't even have to peel them.
You can try chunks of well drained tuna with no mayo or other stuff added - kids will sometimes eat tuna if you don't add the things adults like, such as celery!
Be careful with choking-hazard foods like hot dogs and grapes. Try blueberries, watermelon and canned pears (in pear juice, not sugar syrup) which are soft.
Good luck, and feel free to contact me about the nutritional supplement. I can't say enough about it!
solid foods are just for fun/experimentation the first year. relax. your little one knows best whether he is hungry or not. if he wants to self-feed, let him self-feed. purees are just a transitional thing, and not meant to be a struggle. as long as he is taking in an adequate amount of either breastmilk or formula, don't worry about what other foods he is eating or not eating.
