Suggestions for 5-Month Old Refusing Solids

This is still a bit early. Don't force anything. Just so you know, my child's doctor expects SOME children not to really be interested in solids until they are about 1 year old.
Amy

This really does tak a long time with some kids. I didnt' start solids until my son was almost 7 months old -- and it was very slow process. I tried giving him a spoon to hold/playwith in his high chair. That helped with the adjustment to the spoon.

I agree with the other responses - 5 months is too young for solids. Before I had read about increased food allergies from feeding solids too early, I tried to get my daughter on solids when she was 6 months old. She was smarter than me, though and wouldn't do it!! In fact, to my great frustration at the time (and amusement now that she's older) she wouldn't eat solid food until she was roughly 14 months old!! I was convinced I'd be breastfeeding her till she went to college! ha, ha! But as soon as she was ready, she ate solids and went from total breastfeeding to completely weaned in only 4 months.

My doctor suggested if your baby refuses something ..then wait a week or two and try again....at that age they are getting all of the nourishment they need from their milk anyways... so food supplements are just extra... good luck

She's_simply_not_ready.Even_at_6_months_many_babies_are_
just_not_interested_in_eating_solids_and_there_really_is_no
_rush(especially_if_you're_breastfeeding).Offer_again_around_
6_months_and_see_how_she_does(you_may_have_to_back_off_and
_wait_longer).My_son_is_10_1/2_months_and_is_just_now_
showing_an_interest_in_solids...the_upside_of_this_is_we've
_been_able_to_skip_the_whole_pureed_foods_step!

Kelly_mom_has_some_great_info_on_this_too-
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html

Hope_this_helps!
A.

My advice is to wait until she tries to grab food out of your hands or off your plate when you are eating. That's a sure sign that a baby wants to have some of what you are having!

The current recommendation by many pediatricians is to start feeding solids between 4 and 6 months, but this doesn't mean that every baby is ready to start with solids at this point. One of the things that really affects a baby's ability to eat solids is the status of the gross motor skills. If your baby is not sitting up very well, she may find it difficult to eat solids. Don't be too discouraged, I would take a break and try again in a few days or another week. Try to include your baby at the table at mealtimes and watch her to see if she is interested. Unless there is a medical issue, your baby will eventually catch on and will be eating with the best of them.

Don't rush it. Solids are not necessary in a child's first year of life. She has her whole life to eat solids =)
My 6 month old is still exclusively breastfed, I am in NO hurry to begin solids...lol

Then she isn't ready yet

My son was born on 5/25/2006. I introduced him to rice cereal. I agree with all of the moms, if she is not ready then do not force her. It is natural for her to push the food out with her mouth. She will get used to it and get the hang of it. I mix his rice with a little baby juice and water. He is reacting wonderful to it. My doctor told me that is fine. The baby will become acustom to eating and will fall into place. You are ok, you are only human and every baby is different. Although there is a rule of thumb (6 months) you have to feel your baby, my son was drinking milk almost every hour and the doctor suggested to give him a little cereal. Rice has a tendency of being lighter for baby, oatmeal is heavier and has a thicker consistancy. Go with your feeling and everything will be ok. Good luck

When my son was a baby, I started him on cereal and then after a few weeks introduced fruits, usually mixed in his cereal. He kept pushing it out, too. Both my mom (who has raised 5 babies of her own plus numerous others) and my son's pediatrican suggested that I use one of those strainer bottles and make the cereal more soupy than I would if I was feeding from the bowl. The nipple has a wider opening to allow the food through. I dont know if they come in other colors, but mine had blue plastic for the base and the cap, and the canister part of the bottle was clear. You can get them at Target, Walmart, Jewel-Osco, etc.

My son started solids really early, at 3 months, because he was drinking almost 60 ounces of formula a day (and not spitting ANY up!) and was still activing hungry to his doc said to put him on solids.

You might want to wait a few weeks and try again... your daughter might not be quite ready yet.

At that age, the baby still has a fairly high tongue thrust reflex. They don't really need solids yet anyway, the first several months are really just practice to show them how to eat and they actually get very little nutrition from it. Most drs reccommend that babies don't start solids until 6 months now anyway. No reason to push it.

My daughter is 6 months old and I started her on cereal around 4 months. I started cereal in the evening between her regular bottles when she wasn't showing signs of being hungry yet. They haven't learned that the cereal will satisfy their hunger and will want the milk; something they know will satisfy the hunger. Some days she gobbled it up, others days she didn't want much to do with it so I didn't force it. My sitter would feed her the cereal and give her some the bottle in between spoonfulls, she liked that as well. After a few weeks we added a feeding at lunch time and now she is eating three meals a day. We just recently started on veggies and moving into fruits, again some times she eats everything and other days shes not very interested. Be patient and go along with what Maya feels like doing. Hope this helps :)

How is she refusing it? Does the tongue push the food out? If so, this is a normal reaction. With the tongue also comes the food. Give it time, don't rush it! I believe that rice cereal is first to feed, I am trying to remember, it has been so long.lol 4 years.lol Anyway, dont give her green beans/sweet potatoes yet.Their digestive system is not ready for that.

I went through the dame think with my son! We tried every couple of weeks and even at nine months, he really wasn't that interested. He was still eating his formula so I knew that he was getting enough nutrition, so I just let him tell me when he was ready. He is twelve months now and eats pretty much any fruit or veggie! He'll at times cry and I'll offer him a bottle and he'll drop it and fuss some more so I'll know that he wants food. My only advice is not to let any family members give him food that is not of your approval. I had a lot of problems with my mother-in-law trying to give my son cookies and chocolate pudding before I could even get him to eat his veggies! She'll take to the spoon when she's ready. Just let it happen on it's own.

Sounds like she's not ready. Give it a couple weeks and try again. No reason to rush it - she's getting everything she needs from her formula/milk.

Everything that I have heard is to just stop for awhile and try again in a little bit. She just might not be ready. A lot of Peds don't even encourage/suggest solids til 6 months.

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the start of solids until at least 6 months of age. Before this time, baby is not ready. Tongue thrust reflex is still there and the gut flora is not ready to process solids yet.

Children who start solids too early have a stronger tendancy toward food allergies.

Slow down!

I have many friends whose children were exclusively breastfed for up to a year before they were ready for solids.

Let your baby lead you. She will let you know when she's ready for solids....

Don't bother. If she is not ready, she is not ready. Just make sure she is getting enough nutrition in her bottle. Good Luck!