No interest in solids at 6 mo (4 mo adj)

Simonsaysbaby · April 2012

At 6 months, 4 mo adjusted, my little guy has absolutely NO interest in solids at this point. We have tried cereal of all different consistencies as well as different fruits and veggies. He doesn't open his mouth for the spoon, and when we put a little in there he smiles and just pushes it out. We are trying like 2 times a week, for very short periods. His pediatrician actually told us he probably has a "persistent personality" and that is why he isn't eating, he's being stubborn and wants to run the show. WTH. I thought most babies started solids at 4 mo, his adjusted age. She makes it sound like he is so behind. Ticked me off. He isn't throwing a fit or refusing, just doesn't quite know what to do with the food in his mouth yet. I feel like she is expecting too much of him for him being 2 months early. She is really pushing solids...any thoughts/opinions..or even ideas that might help him? I really just want to let him get this at his own speed. He is on supplements for iron and vit D so it's not like he is lacking in that area...she just really ticked me off by suggesting he is being defiant!! He's just a baby for crying out loud. And honestly, he is the most content and happy child. Thanks for the input, mamas!

JuliaJAG · April 2012

A "persistent personality"? Good grief! It sounds like your LO just needs a little more time to be ready. Sounds like that's normal for full-term babies, and especially since your baby is only 4 mo. adjusted. Just curious, does your ped have this attitude about other things as well or does she get that babies, and especially preemies, hit some milestones at their own pace?

https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers/starting-solids/6-reasons-delay-introducing-solid-food

katie4253 · April 2012

Honestly, that comment would be enough for me to find a new pedi. We did solids starting tat 6 months (4 adjusted). We did it once a day, when I had time with his schedule for almost 4 months. At almost 8 months we moved to two meals a day. We are still at two meals a day, going to start a third now. Babies progress at their own pace. It has nothing to do with your 4/6 month old being defiant. I am annoyed for you.

FWIW, it is very common for preemies to start food before they seem ready. Oral aversions are quite common, especially for babies who were under 1 kilo at birth. So, that doesn't seem odd to me.

Irishsapphire · April 2012

My son was born 5/26/10 close to 31 weeks. When we first started with baby food, he was basically wearing it. I just kept having to back off, and then I would try again with him. And a majical thing happened on Christmas Day (I kid you not). My kid opened his mouth and ate the baby pear food. And that point, he did well with baby food.

My son also had a delay with finger food. I just had to keep working with my son and try different things. It was probably more August after his 1st birthday when he really got finger food as well as walking and transitioned to the toddler room at our daycare. He just went at his own pace.

kelkel09 · April 2012

it sounds like your son is just not ready. We started DD on cereals at 7 mths (4 mths adjusted) and it didn't go well at all. She would spit it all out and break out into hysterics. My doctor said just to wait a few weeks and try again. After a few weeks off, we went right to veggies and she has been eating really well ever since. My pedi said some babies don't start eating until 6 mths so there is nothing wrong with your son if he just needs a little more time. Good luck!

adrielegorburu · April 2012

Sounds like he still has his "tongue push reflex" and isnt ready - we didnt start solids until 6 months adjusted and that was my decision regardless of what the Pedi's said. I waited. Give him some time and try again. There isnt any rush

SWR&MSM · April 2012

I'm sorry your pedi is being so pushy!! We switched pedi's when Annie was around 2 months because of the attitude we were getting - I was made to feel stupid for being worried and asking questions. I'm so happy we made the change!

As far as the food goes, we were in the same boat. I was so anxious to start so I could get some more calories into my girl and she was having none of it. I started offering purees around 5.5 months actual (4 adj) and she would open her mouth and eat a bite or two and then shut down. I tried all sorts of different things - oatmeal, sweet potatoes, pears and got now where. Eventually she just wouldn't open her mouth at all. So I backed off and would offer solids once or twice a week to see if she was ready. Eventually we met with a speech therapist through EI when she was 7.5 months and she was very reassuring. She gave us this little rubber tool that looked like a flat spoon with bumps on it and she had us dip it in the puree and give the baby to hold and gum it. And she encouraged us to use this little spoon thingie as often as possible. Within a week Annie was taking down solids regularly.

Mrs. Alice · April 2012

Sounds like he is not ready yet, which isn't too surprising given his adjusted age. Your Pedi sounds like a real winner too. Those comments would tick me off too! I don't have any great advice since I am having my own struggles with solid feedings with one of my twins. We started around the same time as you, but I wasn't worried in the beginning and have continued just trying gently, not forcing. At our 9 month visit last week, our pedi referred us to therapies including speech therapy to some advice from professionals. I'll also add that my full term nephew wasn't into solids for a long time and didn't really start eating until 12 months. He is perfectly healthy and turned out just fine.

PhDMomma · April 2012

He'll let you know when he is ready. My little guy started watching us intently while we were eating dinner. And then while sitting on my lap at dinner started stealing food off of my plate (mashed potatoes) and proceeded to lick them off of his fingers. He was just shy of 5 months (3.5 months adjusted). We skipped rice cereal and went straight to fruits and veggies. Some have gone over better than others. The peas and the green beans flopped, but the fruit (pears, bananas, peaches) have gone over pretty well. He has however developed a habit of spraying it back at you (well beyond a tounge thrust) if he doesn't like it.

Good luck, and I wouldn't take much stock in what the pedi is saying. He'll eat when he's ready, and its not like you are starving him or anything.

jenmikw · April 2012

IrishSapphire:
My son was born 5/26/10 close to 31 weeks. When we first started with baby food, he was basically wearing it. I just kept having to back off, and then I would try again with him. And a majical thing happened on Christmas Day (I kid you not). My kid opened his mouth and ate the baby pear food. And that point, he did well with baby food.

My son also had a delay with finger food. I just had to keep working with my son and try different things. It was probably more August after his 1st birthday when he really got finger food as well as walking and transitioned to the toddler room at our daycare. He just went at his own pace.

This just happened with us. DS is 8.5 months (7 adjusted) and we've been at this for about 3 months. Never took more than a spoon of food so we switched to BLW but his pedi and OT wanted us to keep on trying spoon feeding too. Yesterday he took 2 tbsp of cereal for his OT and 2tbsp of peas at dinner for DH. Something must have clicked because the day before he had one bite.

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