https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 20:20:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2732148 Thu, 04 May 2017 00:07:39 +0000 gingerbebe 2732148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: my 11 month old only has the first 4 teeth and he's been eating puffs for a long time. They totally just melt and he can gum them. He also eats Cheerios and any kind of puffy cereal (Chex, Crispix, etc), banana, pieces of grape, soft baked sweet potato fries, bread, and he sucks and gnaws on crackers, etc. </p> <p>We didn't do BLW - both my boys are finicky about their food too. DS2 needs his milk at 115-117 degrees, go fig. So we spoonfed chunky (warmed) purées and gave them little finger foods like puffs until they were good enough to pincer things accurately and then would add soft bits of things they could feed themselves. But the self feeding real food thing didn't start to happen to DS1 until like a year and DS2 just probably in the past month. </p> <p>Both kids really liked yogurt, so maybe that could help? We did YoBaby or YoKids cups. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2732114 Wed, 03 May 2017 21:29:10 +0000 LCTBQE 2732114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: @lamariniere: @agold: @QBbride: @erinbaderin: @winter_wonder: thank you for your thoughts on this, everyone-- I am so relieved that I'm not the only one whose baby hasn't instantly gotten on board with solids. I hope he flips a switch one day the way many of you are describing :) but am happy to hear it isn't one of those urgent fix it because you're creating a bad situation things. I think I was concerned because I don't know anyone with a baby like this IRL, plus I read somewhere that you have this short window of time to introduce new flavors and if you don't do it your kid will only eat chicken fingers for the next five years, so I felt like we were failing by not giving him baba ghanouch and the like.</p> <p>@winter_wonder: that thing is so weird! I just ordered it, I'll let you know how it goes :grin: yes, we really need to make more of an effort to eat *with* him--he's in daycare during the week and we only get about 30 minutes with him at night before bedtime, but we could do breakfast together. he does seem to be much, much more interested and willing when it's the weekend and he sees us eating, so thank you for bringing that up. </p> <p>@QBbride: good point about the games. we always take him out and do something different when he gets fussy, but before it comes to that, tricking him with "airplane" isn't really working, anyway :meh: </p> <p>@agold: hi lady, good to hear from you :heart: so cool about her sudden reversal and YESSSS to eating in a restaurant. I can't believe how big they look in high chairs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2732083 Wed, 03 May 2017 20:16:39 +0000 winter_wonder 2732083@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: we were def in the same boat a few months ago. We started making sure to eat with her regularly so she could get more Used to eating (we had been eating after she went to bed). We also used this when trying things with funny textures (like oranges). She would at least chew, suck on this to get a feel for the taste. I think it will get much better in time!</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boon-Pulp-Silicone-Feeder-Orange/dp" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/Boon-Pulp-Silicone-Feeder-Orange/dp</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731621 Wed, 03 May 2017 06:37:19 +0000 erinbaderin 2731621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could have written this same post a few months ago, and my friend kept telling me something that made me feel better - food before one is just for fun. As long as he's still having formula or breastmilk he's getting what he needs, and he's got lots of time to get the hang of and get interested in solid food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731597 Tue, 02 May 2017 23:38:48 +0000 QBbride 2731597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8 months is still so young! I wouldn't stress at all about how much he's eating. </p> <p>And honestly I wouldn't play games to get him to open his mouth, keep him in his high chair if he's fussy etc. I really believe that it can set him up for a poor relationship with food. Babies are so good at listening to their hunger/satiety cues and if he's not interested, don't worry! He will eat one day :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731590 Tue, 02 May 2017 23:04:26 +0000 agold 2731590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: hi august mama! My girl was a funny eater. She was more interested in chewing the spoon! I could barely get her to eat an ounce. And then last week seemingly overnight she's a great eater! She opens wide and keeps opening her mouth for more. I fed her while at a restaurant on Sunday afternoon! :shocked: I never would have imagine doing that a week ago. I'm honest that something just clicked overnight. So keep going with it. Maybe try to just do the same food routine each day. He will figure it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731585 Tue, 02 May 2017 22:57:42 +0000 lamariniere 2731585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To echo everyone else, just keep trying -- and don't stress about it either! My younger LO wasn't very interested in solids until about 10 or 11 months. We did a combo of purées and BLW and would just offer her something every time we were eating. Sometimes she would totally refuse, sometimes she would eat 3 green beans or a few spoonfuls of something. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731575 Tue, 02 May 2017 22:07:15 +0000 Anagram 2731575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest really didn't eat until after age 1! Like she would eat a tiny bit here and there, she just wasn't into it at all and it was a struggle. And then she turned 1 and it was like a switch flipped and she was really HUNGRY, almost overnight! I specifically remember an entire week where the only solids she would eat was mandarin orange chunks and then just her milk. And then suddenly she ate an entire fillet of salmon and a huge side of broccoli the week after she turned 1. It was crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731574 Tue, 02 May 2017 22:01:18 +0000 LCTBQE 2731574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: @SKINNYCOW: @gingerbebe: @Canoli: @Mrs. Microscope: @skipra: @MrsKoala: what a huge relief that every single one of you is on the same page! thank you so much for these thoughts, everyone--had to go offline this afternoon but it was so reassuring to come back and read through all your advice. Realized right after I posted that this solids thing shouldn't be a surprise to me--the baby is already super, super finicky about his milk (has to be in a Dr Brown's bottle, exact super-warm temp, only likes breastmilk, blah blah). I know he won't still be eating exclusively milk when he's 18 years old, so I'll just be patient and keep trying :) </p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: when we let him try what we're eating, we will tear off tiny tiny pieces and feed it to him with our hands. was it more appealing with any of your kids when you put it in front of them and let them self-feed?</p> <p>@gingerbebe: cool about the sippy cup! I would love for the food thing to click one day, but just gonna be zen and wait. dumb question: are puffs safe for babies who only have two teeth? do they melt in your mouth, or are they a choking hazard? </p> <p>@MrsKoala: yes exactly, we feel like there must be something we're doing wrong, too-- especially when I talk to other daycare moms and my sisters in law and they're all "brayden grabs food out of my hands and eats it, at least half his nutrition comes from real food". good practice for not feeling incompetent and competitive, I suppose :) glad to hear your boo got on board eventually! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731527 Tue, 02 May 2017 20:11:46 +0000 MrsKoala 2731527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My now 3 year old would not eat anything until he was 9 months old. It totally triggered my anxiety because it made me feel like I was doing something wrong. But he just needed to do it in his own time. I'd say just be patient and keep offering. He'll figure it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731518 Tue, 02 May 2017 19:44:33 +0000 skipra 2731518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely don't force it! If he's done, he is done!<br /> My 7 month old doesn't really love much yet either, but we have tried several different things and found a couple he likes. We will give one favorite and try something different each day (not necessarily brand new foods each day, just different from his 2 favorites). We also put puffs or cereal on his tray too. Give it time! Milk or formula should still be primary food at this point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731471 Tue, 02 May 2017 15:56:49 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2731471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are doing fine! Make sure you feed him during meal times so he sees that everyone else is eating, don't pressure him, make it fun. He will eat when he is ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731468 Tue, 02 May 2017 15:45:41 +0000 Canoli 2731468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say keep trying and give it time. My son just turned 1 last week and it really wasn't until like about a month ago that he really got into eating. All of a sudden he's all about food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731446 Tue, 02 May 2017 15:21:13 +0000 gingerbebe 2731446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, just give it time. Both my boys were exposed to solids early (to help with reflux) and they weren't really into it for a long time. My 11 month old is a great eater, but it was hit and miss (some days he'd love his puree, some days refused) until recently. When he was teething, he barely wanted to eat or drink. And its only in the last month or so he's really gotten into eating, self-feeding or otherwise. Before that, we'd just offer spoonfed purees or yogurt and let him eat puffs and Cheerios to practice (he loves Cheerios, Mum Mums, Puffs, and yogurt melts) and if he ate great, if not, whatever.</p> <p>Long story short, just keep offering, and one day it will click. Like after months of offering sippy cups, my baby just picked up his cup and started drinking out of nowhere this weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731439 Tue, 02 May 2017 15:16:32 +0000 skinnycow 2731439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice other than sometimes it just takes time. DD ate pretty much no solids (just greek yogurt and pears) until she was about 11 months and then she just started eating more overnight. She eats a ton now.</p> <p>Just keep offering and don't stress out about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731430 Tue, 02 May 2017 15:00:52 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2731430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just keep trying. I know you said tastes of what you eat, but do you mean like letting him self feed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/encouraging-a-reluctant-baby-to-eat-solids#post-2731427 Tue, 02 May 2017 14:57:23 +0000 LCTBQE 2731427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi ladies, wondering if any of you have a baby who was not very interested in introducing solids, how did you encourage him or her? I would love to hear your advice. </p> <p>My baby just turned 8 months and it's been difficult to get him to eat, he just doesn't seem excited about food. We started at 6 months and give him baby food puree "lunch" and "dinner" around 11am and 6pm, about an hour before his two biggest bottles of the day, and he *sometimes* will eat, most often we'll get a few decent bites in and then he starts pursing his mouth closed and making "oooooh!" noises at us, and then gets fussy if we keep trying longer than 10 minutes or so (he is *not* usually fussy). When we try and play games to get him to open up he'll smile with his mouth shut like he's got our number. We've tried giving him tastes of what we eat, tried alternate times for feeding, tried feeding him out of his high chair, tried putting tiny bits of food on his tray so he can feed himself, no dice. So far he sort of likes fruits like apples, pears, prunes; tolerates veggie/fruit mixes and bits of bread/pasta, and hates veggies, eggs, yogurt. He has his two bottom teeth and that's it; it's possible he's teething again now but who knows. </p> <p>What do yall think? Is there something I'm doing wrong, or is the answer just keep trying? </p>