Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

I'm so stressed over DS's meals. He takes his milk like a champ. He's EBF & drinks about 32 oz a day.

I started solids sorta late at 5 months. He hated it from the start. We started with rice, then oatmeal & he's on fruits now. He HATES anything we give him. He cries and spits it out and turns his head. He becomes this "different" child at mealtime from his usually calm, serene, happy self.

I don't know what to do. It's such a struggle at every meal. I've been having MIL/my mom feed him first 2 meals (while I work) but they have the same trouble.

I usually give him a taste of bottle & then his food. Or a spoon of food, chased w/ the bottle b/c he spits it out otherwise.

Do they eventually grow out of this? Are there any tricks?

So not used to this b/c DD was an angel (& still is) w/ her food.

Message edited 11/13/2009 2:15:25 PM.

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

can you make a game out of it? Like do the "here comes the choo-choo?"

I have those same issues with Katie but she is older at 15 months. One meal a day is uaually just her creaming through the whole thing. she wants some, then she doesnt, then she does, etc. So I just wait for her to calm down, get her in a good mood by laughing and being silly and sometimes it works.

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

How many 'food' meals is he getting per day?

I started Sean at about 4.5 months and he wasn't crazy about it at first, but he slolwly got used to it - I know I really need to get him on breakfast, lunch AND dinner - but I still only do breakfast and dinner right now -

Some things I noticed when he gets evil:

I switched to a smaller spoon ........

He was uncomfortable in the highchair (too tight straps or didnt' like the tray pulled in too close to him)

Beleive it or not, he doesn't like his face/hands to be dirty - He LOVES to put his hands in whatever falls, but once it's there, he wants it gone - so I constantly have to wipe him down -

Is you DC teething? I give Sean his fruti/veggies cold which he likes ....

And some stuff he just did NOT like (Of course it was peas & green beans) but I didn't force it on him - I'd make him stick it out for the 3 day allergy test - and after that, nixed it.

Good Luck !!!

ETA: I also found that if I tried to feed him too early he was totally disinterested - Contrary to what the book and everyone else told me, I DID have to wait for him to be really hungry -

Message edited 11/13/2009 8:54:00 AM.

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

Denise, I'm sure I could try the choo choo.

Marisa, good ideas. I gotta try it cold. Most days he's getting it 2x a day; some days he gets a 3rd meal of cereal. We're using a tiny spoon.

I think you're right about the high chair too..MIL uses the bouncer & she has a bit better luck.

I think he's totally teething. He has his 2 fingers in his mouth constantly (& sometimes uses them to "eat" the food).

How long did it take for your DS to get used to it?

Also when do you give him the solids? Before bottle? With bottle (spoon of food, then bottle?)

I'm just so not used to this b/c his sister ate like a champ from day 1 (THANKFULLY)

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

He is still young. They say to start solids anywhere from 4-6 months so maybe he isn't really quite ready. Maybe hold off on the solids for a few days and then introduce them again and see what happens. If he still won't eat wait another few days and try again. Sometimes it just takes a little longer for some babies to get into the solid foods. I wouldn't worry too much about it. All of their nutrition should be coming from either formula or breastmilk at this age so if he's not really eating any solids it's not anything to be concerned about right now.

EDIT - I ALWAYS gave my DD her bottle first because that was waaaaay more important than the solids. My ped said to always make sure she gets her bottle first because that is where she is getting her nutrition from. Then a little after that she got her solids. The solids really are for practice at this age. Practice with chewing, different textures, different tastes, etc.

Message edited 11/13/2009 11:18:35 AM.

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

is he teething?
when mine was he did not want any food.
my doctor told me since i was BF he gets all the nutrition he needs from that ...i'm sure its the same for formula...
eating was just to teach him the skill.

so...i just stopped...i didn't want to stress myself or my ds, and sure enough when i tried again it took.

don't stress yourself over it..he will eat again

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

5 months isn't really starting solids late. At this age, it's not for nutrional value, but rather practice. It's recommended starting solids at 6 months. DD is 9.5 months and it's still a struggle to get her to eat especially now that we are starting her on finger/table foods. We were just at the ped on Wednesday and she said it's no cause for concern since their main source of nutrion for the first year is BM or formula.

It could just be that he's not ready. I wouldn't force it, but rather take a break from it for a couple of weeks and then revisit it.

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

I agree with the PP that said maybe DS isn't ready. I stressed myself out with those feedings so much because DS was the same way. The food isn't that important right now as much as the experience of feeding and exposure to different foods. If your DS only gets milk at this point, he still is getting enough nutrition. I'm really going to try and remember my own advice with my next DS!
GL

Re: Mealtime nightmares 6 month old help

Thanks ladies, I think he's definitely teething; the hands are in the mouth all the time.

He's getting 32 oz. of BM a day so I'm not worried about him not getting enough food. YET he's lazy; I think if I gave up on food he'd be totally content on only his bottle, but I'm afraid that is what will happen & he'll have issues w/ food later.

My mom even tried mashing bananas & giving to him & he didn't want those either.

We initially started solids at 5 months, but he didn't want it, so we stopped for about 10 days & tried again.

Thanks though ladies...I'm sure it's a combination of teething, laziness & getting used to it.

I'll definitely try your suggestions.