We are trying to introduce solid food to Garrett. To say it isn't going well would be a horrible understatement. Isn't introducing solid food supposed to be a fun time? Full of laughs at a silly baby who makes a mess and gobbles down a bowl of oatmeal? This is not us at all... I supposed it had to happen at some point. We breezed through breastfeeding, bottle feeding and formula. Never had a colicky baby, or a overly cranky one. He is always full of smiles for everyone, so naturally our time has come.
He HATES solid food. I have tried twice in the last two months and stopped because he just wasn't into it, okay because it was a battle to get him to even open his mouth. I started again last week because I was getting nervous that we would try after we went to the 6 month appointment, he wouldn't like it, and then I wouldn't have an appointment to talk over concerns with the pediatrician. Sure enough it has turned into a battle again.
I say turned into, because he started out fine. The first night was hard, which is to be expected right? Then we had a couple more okay nights and some not okay nights. He seems to like applesauce and plain oatmeal. He will suck a banana out of one of those mesh bag feeder things like it is going out of style. All of the sudden in the last couple of night he has REFUSED to eat. And the worst part, it frustrates me so bad that I have to make Brian try because I can't even handle it. Oh and to stick a knife in the gut and twist it...the daycare reports that he eats like a champ for them. Riiiiiggghttttt...so it's me then????? I know, I know, its not me blah, blah, blah.
No but really, am I doing something wrong? I try really hard not to force it in his mouth. Sometimes if you make him eat the first couple of bites then he eats the rest like "oh, this is what we are doing, okay!" Tonight we tried carrots. He sort of gagged his way though the cereal in the few bites I tried to get him to eat in the 15 min we were sitting at the table for dinner. Then two half bites of carrots, more like licking of the lips, some major gagging and he starts PUKING!!!! everywhere!! I mean wide open gag and formula pouring out! Ughhhh!
What are we going to do? I need some major advice! If you have any please let me know!!
2 comments:
Oh babies - always a new challenge! I would stop putting pressure on yourself. Per our pediatrician, we didn't even start solids until 6 months of age and then started with a few tablespoons of oatmeal mixed with breastmilk. We very slowly introduced new foods - 1 every 4-7 days. Garrett might just not be ready yet. Nutritionally he really doesn't need solids at this point because he's getting everything he needs from formula or breastmilk. I really adhere with Miles to the research that stresses not pressuring your child to eat, offer it, if they don't want any don't make it a big deal. A great book is "How to Get Your Kid To Eat: But Not Too Much." It was written in the late 80s but the advice is still sound. Your school district might also have an infant specialist/parent educator who would be happy to talk with you about your concerns. Good luck!
Children decide to eat at their own pace and at their own time. Anya wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with rice cereal or oatmeal, but loved having prunes and apples so we mixed the cereal in there for the iron. Sarah is right though, nutritionally they are getting everything they need and it doesn't need to be a panic. Even now Anya will eat more at some meals (or even days) than others and it's completely normal. Don't stress!! (I know, easy to say, harder to do) I got a baby food cookbook because it had a lot of good advice about what age to try things out and what sort of foods worked best for tummies (as well as advice for what to look for in food allergies). Honestly, if he's eating some bananas through the mesh screen you're doing great. 6 months is the age you CAN start....not the age you HAVE to start. HUGS he's fine and you are doing a great job! Hang in there!!
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