XP: Solids question

CaptainD

I posted this on 6-9 but thought I would ask you ladies too...

So, at H's 4 month well check, doc said she could get started on solids.  We waited until 5 months to try and, at first, she was confused but kinda excited.  Then, nothing!  Since then, she sometimes will eat her oatmeal, sometimes not at all (and gets really upset about it).  About two weeks ago I tried bananas, sweet potatoes and avocado.  All a bust.  By the way, I am making my own foods (other than the oatmeal).

What's the deal?  She acts VERY interested in our food but gets so upset with what I make her.  We are going to visit my family next week so I may just stop until we get back (maybe keep up the oatmeal but nothing new).

Any tips, ideas, thoughts?

M.Amy

I made my own baby food and Matt would not eat it at all. I finally broke down and bought some organic jarred food and he loved it. I think the texture of homemade food is still too rough for baby's first foods. I use Earth's Best which is all natural.

What are you mixing in the cereal? 

CaptainD

Oh interesting!  Hmmm.  Maybe that's the problem.  I am mixing her formula in the cereal.  Do you think I should mix it with something different?  Maybe water or something?

robynlesley

I mix formula into Aaron's cereal.  It makes a better texture than water or juice (clumpy), so I don't think you need to mix it with anything else.

I'd just keep offering the cereal to your DD at least twice a day. Play around with consistency to see which she prefers (more watery/thicker). As for the fruits and veggies... well, I'd try the organic jarred foods. I also like Earth's Best (though I have no issues with non-organic Gerber or Beech Nut) too.

At this time, just keep trying.  Don't give up but don't get frustrated. Eventually she'll figure it out.

YaraC

Caroline is the same way. She is very interested in my food but pretty lukewarm to the food that I give her. I figure she'll eat more when she is ready. She did like the sweet potatoes though. I mixed them with a little breastmilk to add in a little familiar taste.

KD288

M.Amy:

I made my own baby food and Matt would not eat it at all. I finally broke down and bought some organic jarred food and he loved it. I think the texture of homemade food is still too rough for baby's first foods. I use Earth's Best which is all natural.

What are you mixing in the cereal? 

This was us too! But what was even funnier H only likes Beechnut. Which is fine by me since its all natural, just not organic. He would eat maybe a 1/2 jar of gerber or Earths best but then he gobbled up full jars of Beechnut.

So basically as with everything you just keep trying until you figure out what your LO likes best!

busybea

Like Robyn mentioned, for the first few weeks, I mixed formula in the cereal, and then, little by little would add different fruits (apples, pears, bananas).  Although I sometimes make my own food, I also have "Earth's Best" when we're out and about, he tends to like both.  It's only really now that he's been really trying all sorts of foods and textures, some he likes, some he can't stand.  Give her time, don't force her, she'll get used to it after a while.

Piranha54

We started around 4 months, with 2 weeks of oatmeal cereal first.  I've been making her food too, but do use the Earth's Best (have heard good things about beachnut but have never seen it anywhere) here or there - she loves their bananas way better than a smooshed fresh banana.  Have you tried apples, mangos, peaches, pears, carrots, blueberries or plums?  Those are some of Ellie's favs, plus the peaches and pears have the added benefit of helping with constipation a bit. And maybe play around with the consistency a bit.  I also agree with the pp that said keep trying things.  DD hated pumpkin the first time she had it and now she loves it.  Still hates kiwi though.

superaunt

We started out with rice cereal for a week at dinner time, then tried carrots for a week, then apples for a week. We started otu super slow and once she got the hang of it and liked it more and more, we added more and switched things up so that now (we started at 4months) she gets cereal with fruit for breakfast, veggie at lunch, veggie or fruit w/cereal at dinner. She doesn't always eat at dinner time; I don't force it. She HATED peaches the first two times I tried giving it to ehr and then a week later i tried again with cereal and she LOVED it.

Bottom line... give it some time, make sure it's wet enough or thick enough (every babe's different), don't force it.

Dragonflyer

Finn is 11 months old (almost) and he still won't eat cereal. He will however eat the pre-made baby foods with cereal in it and most of the other varieties too. He will not eat anything with texture however. He just started eating puffs last week. Like pp's said, just because you try it once, doesn't mean they won't like it the next time.

kimisuejoia

L didn't like the cereal until I added a big glob of banana to it, now he loves it. I think the cereal was just too bland for him!

Peppernut

I make Margaux' stuff.  At first, I would squish her purees through a sieve to get it smoother, but eventually she got used to it lumpier.

I think at first eating is more for practice anyway, so try not to stress about her lack of interest.  I'm sure it'll come and go, it does with Margaux.  Unless it's pears.  Margaux LOVES pears. 

BrideBuddies

Charlie's always been a lukewarm eater, too.  Really doesn't get excited over it at all.

But a couple of weeks ago I gave him one of his spoons to play with and hold while he eats.  That has been a miracle!  He's so cute--he now always wants to "feed' me with his spoon.  And all of a sudden he gets it that the food and the spoon are good things.

Just a thought.

CaptainD

GREAT ideas everyone!  Thank you!  I added a pinch of cinnamon to her cereal tonight and warmed it up a tad.  She seemed to be slightly more interested.  But still wasn't crazy about it.  Thank you for all of your responses!