Introducing Solids - Eagle Pass,TX

It does take some time, but honestly, I don't know that avocado would have been my first attempt at solids (it's more of an acquired taste I think), but that's just me. Maybe begin with simpler foods. Carrots, peas, applesauce, etc. She may just need a more simple flavor for her taste buds right now. (I am not saying no to avocado forever, but maybe not at 6 months old.)

Hi KM---The most important thing to understand right now is that she has to learn how to use her tongue differently. Sucking from a bottle or the breast requires a totally different motion from the tongue. The tongue actually thrusts forward with nursing and it is the exact opposite with solid foods. Be patient and stick with it. She'll get it.

I'm also thinking that you might want her a bit hungrier with the solid food so try to time her meals so that you finish with nursing. I'm sure there will be a fine line between hungry enough and so hungry that she gets frustrated, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Good luck and have fun. D.

you might want to start with something a little bit blander smoother like rice cereal. then go on to other stuff.

Yep, my first son ate right away, he didn't need to 'learn'. My second son, took over a month to 'get it.' Both are breastfed, one was ready to eat, the other not so interested for a while. Give it time, no rush. All they need comes from your milk anyway.

Ha! My DD (now 7mos) still spits food back at me! I started her on solids at 3mos and she's only now starting to be interested in them.
For her, as ridiculous as it seems, she appears to have a "complex palette". She likes mixed flavors, not singles.
For ex: yesterday I tried carrots, and then prunes. She wouldn't touch either of them. But when I mixed them together (which is nasty, by the way), she devoured the whole thing.

I'll often put veggies and fruit together, and that's what she eats the most of.

Mine were the same way. My son jumped right in and was super excited from the beginning. I'd say it's taken a good 2mos for DD to warm up to it.
It takes awhile to get the hang of it for them. Just keep trying. She'll get it!

Just wondering why you stop bf at 10 minutes? She could be frustrated and still hungry. Maybe try nursing fully and then just offer something after that.....they don't need the food at this age to grow so just experiment and take your time. She is getting everything from breastmilk still and it would be a shame to cut down on that at this stage.

Avocado tastes great mixed with mashed banana. My son doesn't like avocado alone, but the mixture seems to be fine. It may be the flavor she doesn't like, and not just because it's a solid.

I started my son on applesauce, cut the apples in really thin slices and boil them until they're really soft, then stick them in the blender and strain them to get rid of the skins. The flavor is really mild and may be easier to handle than heavy avocado. Plus, the water turns into apple juice that she has to love!

As far as her not getting the hang of it, it's brand new to her. Keep trying and I'm sure she'll understand sooner or later. Also, try eating in front of her or take a bite of her food and chew it really exaggeratedly so she understands how.

My son wasn't ready for solids until he was 8 months old. Until then he was exclusively breastfed. If she is spitting and gagging she is probably not ready for solids. Wait a few weeks and try again. Skip the sippy cup for now, all the nutrition she needs is in the breastmilk, she is a bit young for the sippy cup.

I vote that you stop for a couple weeks and then try again.......

Our 2nd child was strictly breastfed for 9 months before getting baby food. Our 3rd just turned 6 months and we won't be introducing anything else yet. Some babies are not ready. They will let you know! For the first year of life, their main nutrition should be from breastmilk or formula.

Don't worry - she is breastfed so she is getting the nutrients she needs that way. Solids is really for introduction to textures, swallowing, basically practice at eatting at this point. Have patience. Is she showing interest in solid foods?
This is a great website with interest signs:
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/readyforsolids.htm
Try feeding to her at the table when you have dinner.
Every baby is different. Hang in there mama.

just keep in mind, its not about the actual consumption of food, but introduction to food. if all she takes in these first few days in a teaspoon per feeding thats fine. As for avocado, it makes my 7 mo old gag and unless you are blending it, is a little lumpy for first foods. I personally recommend Happy Bellies baby cereals. You have to order them on line, but they are very smooth and taste good, organic, and added pro biotic. Their little tummies are just now developing the enzymes to digest these foods, so its best that they only take tiny amount in the beginning or they get constipated. Good luck on the avocado. Breast fed babies are used to really sweat flavors, so you'd likely have better luck with mashed banana if you really want her to ingest something.

Since you are making her own baby food, just expect her to take less. I made my own cereals and my baby would hardly touch them. I think because the instant cereals are smoother, they take to them better. When my baby flat out rejected all my Vita-mix oatmeal, I settled on the Happy Baby Belly's cereal and she loves it.

I think babies just take to food differently in the beginning. My guess is that it's more a physiological thing than having to do with the actual food (although maybe the taste/ texture of the brown rice is more appealing to her than the avocado). What I mean is, it could be just taking her a little time to figure out what to do with her tongue since this is so different than anything she's done so far. Some babies have no trouble from the start, others have a little adjustment period. She'll get the hang of it :)