Feeding Solids

Ok, Olivia is 5.5 months old. I just started solids with her on Saturday. Until this point, she was 100% formula fed. So, I figured waiting until now she would be all ready and gobble it down. Well, NOPE! She wants NOTHING to do with anything except a bottle near her mouth.

I gave her rice cereal (mixed with formula) on Saturday and Sunday. What I did manage to get in her mouth (I had to make her smile to get her to open her mouth for food...trickery works best), she would make a gag face and spit it ALL back out. So, yesterday I decided to mix the cereal with a bit of apple juice to kind of sweeten it up. Same thing happened again. Today, I had DH pick up some stage 1 pears and thought I would just try that. NOPE, she wants NOTHING to do with any of it.

UGH...I'm kind of impatient anyway, especially when I just figured she would take right too it.

What am I doing wrong? In the morning, I've been trying the cereal about 1.5 hours after her first bottle. Tonight, she "attempted" the food almost 3 hours after her bottle (but she wasn't starving for the next bottle yet). I'm at a loss. I never thought I would have a kid that CLOSED their mouth when it came to food....lol!!!! She literally wants nothing to do with it. I'm so frustrated. Do I just keep trying? Stop and wait a week? I have no idea!

 

If she's happy, but not opening her mouth I might be inclined to try for a day or two like once a day and see if you can generate any interest. If not, I would bail and wait a couple of weeks. No rush, she will get it!

ETA: spelling

 

She just might not be ready. Some peds don't even recommend solids yet, so I wouldn't worry. Wait a few days or even a few weeks and try again

Dianna

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Aug 27 2008, 12:09 AM) [snapback]948895[/snapback]
If she's happy, but not opening her mouth I might be inclined to try for a day or two like once a day and see if you can generate any interest. If not, I would bail and wait a couple of weeks. No rush, she will get it!

ETA: spelling


Yep, she's happy, content, looking around, etc...but just NO interest. I think I'll try a few more days and if she doens't show any interest, I'll bag the idea for two more weeks or so. The pedi didn't really care when I started her (between 4-6 months). I waited until now b/c the twins were 6 months before I started them...plus, Olivia doesn't need anymore food or anythign like that to sleep better. She already naps 3 times a day and sleeps 12-13 hours at night, so formula is pleasing her just fine. All the pedi said was that she would like her to be started on something by 6 months. Well, the babe makes the rules, not me!

 

Yep DS is a bit the same, and he's 6 months. I tried oatmeal and he seemed to be more interested, but it's still not easy.

 

I agree with pp. If she doesn't seem to catch on, you can always try again in a couple of weeks. Let us know how it goes!

 

I agree that there is no need to keep trying now, but if you want a tip that worked for me:
I put them in the high chair and put the bottle in their mouth. While they are still sucking, I quickly pull out the bottle and give a watery spoonful of food. They suck it down better. I do this repeatedly - and they get it after a few days.

HTH!

 

Josh was the same way. He hated rice cereal. He would grunt and not open his mouth. What I did was mix a little bit of fruit (applesauce or bananas) or veggies (sweet potatoes). That helped a little bit, but it was still a struggle. I switched to oatmeal and he loves it. Now he looks like a baby bird when I feed him. I'll turn to feed Jake and when I turn towards Josh he has his mouth wide open waiting for more.

If you would of asked me this 2 months ago I never would of believed that Josh would ever eat solids.

 

She may just not like rice cereal. I started w/ rice and Maya loved it, Sofia HATED it.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/HinSD/IMG_0823.jpg

So after the first week I moved on to oatmeal. She liked it better but wouldn't really open her mouth and would spit it out.

I have been opening MY mouth when I want them to open their mouth. This has helped! Today, Sofia was opening her mouth every time and she is spitting less out. I think it is a combo of she is more ready for solids, seeing me open MY mouth, and liking oatmeal mixed w/ sweet potatoes.

 

QUOTE(HinSD @ Aug 27 2008, 02:21 AM) [snapback]949142[/snapback]
She may just not like rice cereal. I started w/ rice and Maya loved it, Sofia HATED it.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c76/HinSD/IMG_0823.jpg

So after the first week I moved on to oatmeal. She liked it better but wouldn't really open her mouth and would spit it out.

I have been opening MY mouth when I want them to open their mouth. This has helped! Today, Sofia was opening her mouth every time and she is spitting less out. I think it is a combo of she is more ready for solids, seeing me open MY mouth, and liking oatmeal mixed w/ sweet potatoes.


I did have DH pick up some oatmeal cereal today, so we'll see how that goes. I have been doing the "open my mouth" thing and sometimes she'll do it, sometimes she won't.