Getting Baby To Eat

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Getting Baby To Eat

by Suma
(India)

Do you have any advice for getting baby to eat?

My son is 5.5months old. And I have been breastfeeding him. I did work for 6weeks when he was 4months old and he bottle fed on formula then. I now have taken him off and am at home full time.

His doctor advised to start feeding him (rye/rice mash & fruit juice/bean soup) two weeks ago. However I am unable to get him to swallow anything. Initially he just spat out everything and nowadays he has learnt to tighten his lips hard. I am unable to even make him taste anything. He isn't even drinking from the bottle so am unable to feed him extra formula. I do feel my breastmilk may not be enough for him and am unsure how to get him to let me spoonfeed or bottlefeed him.

What do I do next? Any tips or advice will be most appreciated.

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Getting Baby To Eat

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Thanks...
by: Suma

Thanks for your advice. My son is now past 6months and I manage to squeeze in a spoon or two. Also I find he allows me to feed him with my finger... so anything not too watery, I manage to get him to taste this way.

His weight gain in the past month hasn't been as his usual graph, but doc says its OK as he has begun to crawl and is more interested in playing now.

I am constantly trying to make him taste pureed fruits/veg mash, cerelac, farex rusk whenever his mood allows :)

No force here... when he is ready, he also allows a few bites.

Thanks once again for your valuable inputs..

Baby Is Too Young
by: Janis

I personally feel your baby is too young for solids. 6 Months at the EARLIEST is time for solids. Some babies only start solids at 9 months! Their digestive sytems CANNOT handle food, ESPECIALLY proteins and carbohydrates.

The best thing to start with is the purest food - FRUIT. Mashed banana and avo, pureed steamed apple and pear. Try steaming organic dried fruit too and pureeing it. Your baby needs breast milk (or formula) for the required protein and iron. When baby is used to fruit, start steamed mashed/pureed veggies, but get advice as some must not be introduced until 9 months or so.

Up until baby is one year, solids are just an experiment, not a necessity - as long as there is breastmilk or formula!

Normal Baby Phase
by: Aida

Your child is going through a normal baby phase. Don't worry he'll come out of it soon enough.

If you don't mind picking up a lot for a while, try this:

- Sit with your baby on the floor (where it's easier to clean), mix up a little of the rice and set it on a plastic plate or container in front of the baby and let him play with it. Yes, it is messy. But some of it will be eaten as the baby's natural instinct to taste everything takes over.
After trying this for a few days, begin trying to spoon feed him while he plays. Little by little the resistence will end and you can begin feeding him on a schedule.

All babies like to play with their food

- Also don't worry about juice so much. Some babies don't like juice well into their first year. Water, milk or formula is all your baby truly needs the first 6 months [Dalene - also see comment by Janis]. Introduce foods slowly and allow your baby to get used to the idea of swallowing food. Don't force him. Remember to be playful and patient. "Baby" cereal and soft cooked very thinly pureed fruits and veggies are what doctors recommend in the U.S.A. as first foods. Single ingredients only and at a space of 4 days apart to check for allergies.

Ask your doctor if you can try the following fruits and vegetables.
Fruits:
bananas
mango(Mangoes)
apples(seba)
pears

Vegetables:
carrots
green beans(Chowli)
squash(kumhadz)

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Submitted by: Aida

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Your child is going through a normal baby phase. Don't worry he'll come out of it soon enough. If you don't mind picking up a lot for a while, try this: - Sit with your baby on the floor (where it's easier to clean), mix up a little of the rice and set it on a plastic plate or container in front of the baby and let him play with it. Yes, it is messy. But some of it will be eaten as the baby's natural instinct to taste everything takes over. After trying this for a few days, begin trying to spoon feed him while he plays. Little by little the resistence will end and you can begin feeding him on a schedule. All babies like to play with their food <img border="0" src="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/images/smiley3.gif"> - Also don't worry about juice so much. Some babies don't like juice well into their first year. Water, milk or formula is all your baby truly needs the first 6 months [Dalene - also see comment by Janis]. Introduce foods slowly and allow your baby to get used to the idea of swallowing food. Don't force him. Remember to be playful and patient. "Baby" cereal and soft cooked very thinly pureed fruits and veggies are what doctors recommend in the U.S.A. as first foods. Single ingredients only and at a space of 4 days apart to check for allergies. Ask your doctor if you can try the following fruits and vegetables. Fruits: bananas mango(Mangoes) apples(seba) pears Vegetables: carrots green beans(Chowli) squash(kumhadz)

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Getting Baby To Eat

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Getting Baby To Eat