I introduced my son to the vegetables at about six months. He loved them. He is now seven and a half months. Last week he was sick and didn't eat much (except for formula) for about four days. Now, he won't eat vegetables anymore. He will eat any of the fruits but gags when I give him veggies. After he gags he won't open his mouth for more. He has also done this with meats from the beginning. I still haven't gotten him to take more than one bite of turkey or chicken. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get him to start eating veggies again? How did you introduce the meats?
When my children were just being introduced to new food and wouldn't eat it I put their favorite food on the front edge of the spoon so that's what they tasted first and they quickly accepted what was behind it. Try putting a little green beans or peas on the spoon, then put a little applesauce or peaches (or whatever he likes in front of it) it worked for mine. If you wish to contact me, my email address is ____@____.com this helps.
I agree with the other mama suggestions...particularly about mixing a small amount veggie in with the fruit and then gradually decreasing the fruit. Also, after my son got really sick he wouldn't eat thicker or coarser foods, also wouldn't eat any finger foods. I had to take him back to stage 1 foods and then as he felt better he returned to his normal eating habits. It took about a week or so.
My doc didn't have me introduce proteins until he was 9 months old. It turned out the best way for my son was to cut it up from my plate and give it to him. He took it well. I tried the cooking and pureeing...very gritty. He didn't like it so I had to use tons of fruit or veggies with it. Try turkey too...my son seems to like that best. Finally, when you're desperate...put cheese on it. My son will eat almost anything with cheese on it.
Hi C.. Just be patient. Have you ever been sick and then not felt like eating certain foods? I have. He's still pretty young- my experience with my kids was they would only eat a little meat in the beginning. I think it's because the meats are so dense, whereas the fruits and vegies by their nature have a lot more water.
I would just continue to offer him a variety of foods and not make a big deal about it.
My son loved veggies if they were mixed with pears or apples...so, I would do squash and apples. Like the other Mamas said, it was just a process.
Today, he is still very particular about what he eats...if he doesn't like it...he won't eat it.
Good Luck!
my son loves banana and turkey. i buy ground turkey, cook it, freeze it in squares and pull out a square 2x a day for his meals. then after i heat it, i throw in a banana and the meat and mix in the blender. He can't get enough for it!!!
Hi C.,
The way I did it with my boy was to put a little veggie on the spoon, then plop the fruit next to it/on top of it. That way, he gets the veggie flavor slowly reintroduced to his palate. And try going for fruitier flavored veggies, like corn, carrots, sweet potato. I would take the carrot, for instance, and put a small dot onto a spoonful of applesauce, then for each subsequent bite, I'd make the dropful bigger until it was all carrot. Sometimes we didn't make it and he stopped accepting it altogether until I got different spoon to start all over. Good luck!
Put a spoon of his favorite fruit in with the veggie, then put less and less in it.
This is sort of funny... and I say this because, food "likes" and "dislikes" will continue throughout their childhood. LOL
This is just the beginning of it... ! Head's up...
For us, our Pediatrician, does not recommend introducing meats until 12 months old... .and this is per the development of their internal organs. Each Pediatrician is different... but for both my kids, although my Pediatrician was more "conservative" in approach... neither of my kids had any allergies or intolerances/food problems. Ever. Except, my daughter was at about 2 years old, allergic to Kiwi.
Also, your son apparently still has his "gag reflex."
To me... he's had a "lot" of foods for only being 7 months old. ANd be aware, that spinach should NOT be introduced until AFTER 9 moths old. There are enzymes in it which a younger baby cannot tolerate.
It's okay that he is drinking his formula... keep in mind that for the 1st year of life... a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition is from breastmilk/formula...NOT solids, NOT juices. At this age, food is just to get them "introduced" to it... not having full on "feasts." It is a gradual thing.
A good site for information on food introduction and "good" or "bad" food and WHEN/what age to introduce them, is:
www.babycenter.com
All the best,
Susan
I don't think you have any reason to worry at all. He's just started on veggies and when babies aren't feeling well, most tricks get thrown out the window. Just be patient. Offer him a little taste of fruits and veggies once or twice a day and if he rejects, don't persist. I guarantee as soon as he's feeling better, he'll be into them again.-www.weelicious.com
With regard to the meats, if you're using jarred meat, I would recommend staying away from Beechnut brand (have you tasted it? yuck!). Gerber, at least, is not as dry and tasteless. If possible, try cooking up ground meat and puree it as much as possible. Then, add to a little bit of veggie/fruit mixture and see if he'll eat it that way.
Try mixing a little vegies in with his favorite fruit. Just start with a little at a time and then slowly increase the amount. My babies went through this, so I just had to get creative! Mine never, ever liked jarred meats, so I would make homemade chicken, vegie, and rice soup then puree it and they all loved it.
I hope this helps!
M.
try mixing a little bit of veggies in with fruits. as far as the meats try then mixed with something (like the veggie beef or chicken noodle) they tend to taste better and not look like animal food lol... just give it time and keep offering the veggies. also try mixed veggies and not just single flavors.
