https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:24:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818925 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 11:25:21 +0000 sillymilly 2818925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: She wasn’t very interested in the regular chewy tubes, but really liked to munch on the p’s and q’s, so perhaps. It’s really hard to say, but she got much better at handling textures by a year and we were on more solids and less purees by then, which I thought was never going to happen. Fingers crossed for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818912 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 10:36:58 +0000 MsBAM 2818912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sillymilly: did you find those chewy tubes helped? Also, my LO is on a lower percentile for weight and higher for height so it surprises me that he suggested withholding breastmilk. Definitely trying to get him a feeding evaluation.</p> <p>@hellobeeboston: Gonna try adding the fatty stuff too! Like oil to his purees, etc. I do full fat yogurts too and sometimes he takes it.</p> <p>@Mrs. Goose: okay, I’ll keep doing stage 2 then or up to 8m purees until we figure this out bc that’s what he accepts. I talked to two dieticians that agreed with me that he needs an evaluation so I’m wondering why the doctor wouldn’t think the same thing. He’s assuming he wants breastmilk. My LO doesn’t even cry to nurse, so I don’t think that’s the issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818801 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 07:14:04 +0000 hellobeeboston 2818801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>just chiming in late to say my first LO was very similar. it was SO stressful! and i remembered hearing that saying "food before 1..." comment and thought it was true. My pediatrician was like, NO! I did what you did and gave food before breast milk, and we just kept offering often. He took a long time to get used to it, and used to choke on food because he wasn't handling the textures well. But eventually he was good.... just keep with it and he'll start eating eventually! I added a lot of fatty things (avocado, butter, olive oil, full fat yogurt, etc) in where I could to get him the extra calories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818787 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 05:57:20 +0000 sillymilly 2818787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: My DD didn’t feed herself a cheerio until 10 months old. She would struggle with chunky purees and gag/throw up when eating almost anything with texture. I got her an EI eval at around 11 months, and the speech pathologist found that she was not actually making chewing motions even though it looked like she was chewing to me. While she didn’t qualify for services, she did recommend two things to help develop chewing motions:</p> <p>Chewy Tubes - Yellow <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CQASVYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x9V4AbRSDJWBB" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CQASVYE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x9V4AbRSDJWBB</a></p> <p>Chewy Tubes P' and Q' <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CQASZOA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_y-V4AbAS20C15" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CQASZOA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_y-V4AbAS20C15</a></p> <p>FWIW, my ped did recommend solids before breastmilk as she’s always been at the bottom of the weight curve, but never recommended withholding BM after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818783 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 04:20:10 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2818783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: I know for my first that was not the issue at all. Surprisingly my doctor did not suggest withholding breastmilk. I tried nursing after “eating” solids instead, and not even right after, and it made no difference. She wouldn’t drink much and wouldn’t drink more when sh was that age either. Sometimes I really don’t know how she stayed happy and healthy, but she did and always had great energy levels. She wasn’t picky and still isn’t, it’s just food quantity that is low now. </p> <p>To me there’s no issue with still eating purée at that age. He will/can eat puffs and toast and Cheerios as you said and has tried the pear so it’s not like he can’t eat other stuff. I know some kids are so over purée quickly, but my toddler will still eat pouches now that she actually consumes them-depending on the flavour blend-and I just buy the smooth 4-8 month flavour/blends. I stopped bothering trying to make food, well purées, around 8 months with her because it wasn’t getting eaten as well. </p> <p>I also always purée all my soups because I prefer eating smooth soups and I’m an adult....so there’s that! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818762 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 21:19:01 +0000 MsBAM 2818762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I’ve been trying to nurse after meals now. He likes bread, cereal and puffs. I was told by a couple dieticians and the doctor to keep giving him what he likes and work with what he likes. So I do give him bread with peanut butter, butter, cream cheese, gonna try jam soon. I’ll isually give him Cheerios and mix some puffs in as a treat. I am continuing to offer other things too even though he doesn’t eat them. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: I offer BM after meals and at bedtime, sometimes for naps. I always make sure he will be hungry enough to eat table food. </p> <p>@Mrs. Goose: I do feel like that too, it doesn’t matter what I do, he won’t eat table food. The doctor makes me feel like I’m the reason he isn’t eating, bc he wants breastmilk but my gut is telling me this is not the issue. I absolutely will feed him BM if he refuses table food! As far as baby food goes, one jar of baby food can usually last 2 meals if he takes it. Sometimes I open a pouch and he won’t eat it, other times he will. I stopped making homemade stuff bc it was getting too stressful and busy making it when he would most often decline it. Do you think it’s ok that at almost 12m he’s still taking purees? Usually stage 2 or 7 or 8m purees. He doesn’t like stage 3. I do feel like I should get the evaluation in case something is going on, then I won’t kick myself for not addressing it earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818742 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 18:50:56 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2818742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember reading this thread and wanting to reply before. Sorry you’re still having issues. My first dropped percentiles at 6 months and gained very little weight from 9-12 months and is still on the smaller side. Breastfed only a few times and for only a few minutes per day and not at night starting at 6 months. I didn’t night wean-it was he choice. She would eat next to nothing table food or purée wise. A pouch would last 3 days. It didn’t get better until 15 months and she’s 2.5 now and some days are still crappy but I don’t worry as much anymore. I did have many nights where I cried worrying though. My second kid is 9 months and eats much more but only breastfeeds 4 times a day just like my I eat. But the food intake is night and day; 2-3 pouches/jars worth of food plus a bit of table food that is mostly played with. I did try the food before breastfeeding with my first. I feel like I tried everything to get her to eat and nothing worked. I totally disagree with them telling you to not feed your kid at all until the next “meal” in the hopes that he’ll then eat solids. </p> <p>If you think an eval is in order definitely push for it. Even if it’s just nothing and then you get the peace of mind it’s definitely worth it. It sounds like he’s just not interested which I understand would be worrying and frustrating. Hopefully you can get some answers or a switch trips and he starts eating more things soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818734 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 18:01:24 +0000 gingerbebe 2818734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DS1, who was my kid with food and weight issues, we did split feedings. So I would nurse one side or feed him half a bottle, then we'd eat (or try to eat) table food, and then I would offer him the other breast or remainder of the bottle. Made meals longer, but its how I could try to manage to offer BM and table food at the same time but make sure he was getting enough nutrition one way or another. If it matters, my kids were always on a schedule, so there were only 4 milk feedings total in a day - 3 before each meal and then 1 bedtime feeding - so there wasn't other opportunities for them to tank up on milk.</p> <p>(DS2 was a great eater, so he just naturally bumped up his table food consumption and it was a non-issue). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818732 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:46:24 +0000 Silva 2818732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: at 11 mos I wasn’t as focused on always nursing before meals so you could try that. If he doesn’t eat what you offer are you then giving him puffs? We always just have my kids whatever we were eating. Sometimes they are it, sometimes they didn’t, but I didn’t give alternatives.<br /> I’m sorry it’s still so hard. If you have concerns definitely ask about them/ look into an eval! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2818727 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:28:35 +0000 MsBAM 2818727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Fast forward to almost 11mo... still pretty much only eating bread and puffs. I’ll add peanut butter and cream cheese to toast and he’ll take that. He’s ate pieces of cheese and pear the odd time, and it’s hit or miss with him accepting purees. I made an appt with his paediatrician who actually said the same thing as the med student!! He said he wants breast milk and told me to offer solids before breast milk. When I told him I tried that, he said then don’t feed him breast milk if he doesn’t eat and wait until the next meal. This is crazy to me and I am not following that advice!!! Seems so wrong to starve a baby. They don’t understand cause/effect! I really think he might have a chewing issue. Thinking about getting a feeding assessment done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807892 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 20:55:03 +0000 Grace 2807892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: My kiddo is 8.5 mo, 1st percentile for weight and my ped has never suggested not feeding him. I have found he eats best if I nurse an hour before solids. If I don’t wait that long he isn’t hungry and if I try solids first, he refuses to eat because he’s too hungry and wants the breastmilk (which I assume is easier to fill up on). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807812 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 14:01:14 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2807812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: I cut them up! Great in a smoothie too. Glad it was a hit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807792 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 13:04:52 +0000 MsBAM 2807792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: The smoothies were a hit!!! He loves drinking them from his straw cup! For the times he doesn’t eat much, I can give him this and mix in avocado for some fat :) Also handy if we’re out and about during meal time! Did you give the berries whole or cut in half? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807726 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 10:14:29 +0000 josina 2807726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: @MsBAM: My DD isn't a great eater with finger foods, but I can usually get her to eat a few more bites by just putting it on a baby fork/spoon and letting her feed herself that way. It's like she doesn't like getting messy, but she's fine with silverware. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807626 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:06:50 +0000 turquoisemama 2807626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: I haven’t read any of the other posts but I’m really surprised the doctor told you that. 9months is still really little and they are still getting used to regular food. I get maybe not doing milk right before but definitely give him milk after whether he eats or not. He will not go through childhood without eating food, but right now, milk is what he needs. And do not force anything. I did that with my daughter and it was a huge struggle to move past the resistance and pickiness. Just let him decide what and how much he wants. All you can do is offer it and let him lead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807625 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 19:53:48 +0000 skipra 2807625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Omg I'm sorry but that is really bad advice! My kids have all been super low BMI like yours - tall but low weight %. We have had 3 different pediatricians (because we moved not because they were bad!) and every single one of them suggested offering fatties foods, like adding butter or oil to things, peanut butter, avocados, etc. Only with my oldest did anyone suggest weaning but that was when he was 15 months and had fallen off the charts completely. My youngest was terrible about eating as a baby. He would gag and throw up on finger foods and refuse pureed but he figured it out around a year. Sorry you got such bad advice. It seems the consensus agrees with your gut feeling so I hope you are more comfortable following your instincts now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well/page/2#post-2807609 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 16:51:17 +0000 jhd 2807609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: also jumping back in to say if LO wants to do it himself, you can always give him a spoon with some purée or yogurt or oatmeal on it and let him try to feed himself. Messy for sure, so we did this in the evening before bath. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807571 Sun, 04 Mar 2018 10:15:13 +0000 MsBAM 2807571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: He used to always take purees well... until I introduced finger food. Now it’s hit or miss! Now he just wants to do everything himself! But I’m going by that “food is for fun before 1” slogan and just going to take it easy now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807514 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 20:35:01 +0000 cake2017 2807514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 8 months and we are taking it slow. At first “I felt behind” because people around me are feeding their 4 month olds full meals. I realized LO will go at his own pace. He’s trying different puréed foods and it’s going well. I also give oatmeal and baby cereal. I nurse and that’s his main feeding. I’m learning that all of this is just for fun “before one”!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807510 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 20:25:01 +0000 MsBAM 2807510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: That makes me feel better! LO is hit or miss with purees lately! Sometimes he accepts and sometimes he doesn’t! But the table food he almost always accepts is bread and bananas.... offering more variety.but he’s not interested in anything else!</p> <p>@Mrs.Champagne: Will definitely have to try smoothies! I think that will be a hit with my LO because he LOVES to drink sips of water from his sippy cup!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807446 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 13:28:07 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2807446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: my kids loved straws and smoothies at that age! Some Greek yogurt, water, avacodo and banana would be good - I usually had berries too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807441 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 12:59:50 +0000 IRunForFun 2807441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: Even at 13 months we still start off by offering my DD table foods, and when she's done eating those (usually indicated by her throwing them off her tray) we top her off with a bit of purée. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807437 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 12:25:08 +0000 MsBAM 2807437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: Thanks so much! All your info was very helpful too! I’m just going to take it easy now at meal times and not worry about how much he’s eating. He’s still taking purees so should I do table food plus purees at each meal so he has a chance to experiment with table food? That’s what I’ve been doing. Smoothies are actually a great idea though! And he loves his straw sippy cup so this might work! I may try avocado smoothies.... do you know a simple recipe? Would Greek yogurt be best for LO? :) I honestly don’t know why my pedi or doctors office push solids so much. He’s perfectly healthy even if he’s in the 10 percentile for weight. He’s in a higher percentile for height so it’s not like he’s not small in every aspect. It just stresses moms out for no reason! Does your husband have any ideas how to handle this at my LO’s next appt if the advice he gives differs from my beliefs? I don’t want to get into a conflict and want to be as nice as possible. He also suggested I start night weaning and let him cry 5-10mins. I don’t plan on sleep training him at night because I cosleep, I love it and it’s easier when nursing :). Pedi hasn’t asked me his sleeping arrangements yet and I haven’t shared... </p> <p>lctbqe: Thank you! I would try and switch but pediatricians accepting patients are limited where I live. Plus, I would want to know what philosophy the pediatrician has before switching too. I’m going to see how the next appt goes :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807375 Sat, 03 Mar 2018 00:33:57 +0000 LCTBQE 2807375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: this is amazing!</p> <p>@MsBAM: hugs, good for you for going with your instinct here. if your ped, the med student, and the nurse/reception line you called are all a united front on this bad advice, like others have said I'd be looking for a new pediatrician. no reason to stay with someone whose medical advice is bad or whose philosophy you disagree with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807345 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 19:51:32 +0000 Silva 2807345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBAM: I just told my husband this story. I didn't tell him it was a med student, and he asked how old your doctor is (with the assumption being that an older doctor might not be up on current research). When I told him it was a med student he was SHOCKED. He said that is contrary to literally everything he has ever learned, and was wildly inappropriate advice.</p> <p>He reiterated that food before one is just for fun. Keep offering variety, but if your baby doesn't want to eat any of it don't worry about it. Sit with your baby, enjoy meal times, and try not to worry about it.</p> <p> If you are concerned about weight gain for some reason, you can offer higher fat foods (peanut butter or butter on bread, full fat yogurts, avocado- smoothies can be an easy place to mix in lots of foods like this).</p> <p>At 9 months with our children we were primarily giving them breast milk. They would nurse before each meal (and then whenever else they wanted). We give them whatever we are eating (we never did purees, but if you prefer that, go for it!).</p> <p>Playing with food is part of learning about it- exploring textures, tastes, how it feels when you squish it- thats all GOOD. Not bad.</p> <p>If you are interested, my favorite resource for food related parenting advice is <a href="https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/</a><br /> it is full of really incredible, evidence based advice about food.<br /> We follow her method (for the most part) with our children. My kids are both somewhat picky, but I would consider them to be mildly adventurous, particularly given there ages. But the best part of following her method has been I don't have to worry about food. I just don't. I give them whats for dinner, they eat if they are hungry, they don't if they are not. I always include something I know they WILL eat if they are hungry. Thats its. No power struggles. The med students advice seems destined to set up an anxiety-ridden, power struggle between you and your baby. Food doesn't have to be like that!</p> <p>I'm so sorry you got bad advice- especially from someone who you expect to be able to trust. Its so hard to make these decisions as parents, and doctors giving bad advice just makes it harder.<br /> Hopefully you can make a decision that feels better to you. I'm impressed and so proud that you listened to your gut and fed your hungry baby. GOOD JOB! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807298 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:38:28 +0000 Mama Bird 2807298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's really odd advice. If he's just not interested, he'll eat better when he's ready. If there's some minor issue getting in the way of better eating (like fine motor skills or texture aversion), doing some Early Intervention therapy may help, but keeping him hungry is still not the answer.</p> <p>Most likely, he's just plain happy with his milk intake at the moment and doesn't see food as much more than a fun new thing. When his appetite gets bigger, he'll gravitate to eating more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807292 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 17:22:50 +0000 LemonJack 2807292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others have said, that seems like terrible advice! DD2 is 9 months and just started eating table food a couple weeks ago. She wasn’t interested at ALL before then. We didn’t push it as DD1 was the same. She’s now 3.5 and an excellent eater.</p> <p>Our doctor is also a lactation consultant, and has said more than once that a lot of pediatricians are pretty uninformed about breastfeeding. Apparently they get something like four hours of breastfeeding training throughout their entire time in medical school. So, apparently a lot of them are pretty clueless. Your breast milk does change composition to have more fat in it as baby grows, so that is the best nutrition! Obviously if baby isn’t eating ANY food by close to a year you probably would have to work on encouraging it, but what you’re describing sounds totally normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807252 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:51:32 +0000 jey34 2807252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That’s terrible advice! My doctor told me at that age it was more important to make it a point of offering 3 meals and snacks at that point than it was what he actually ate. If he didn’t eat then that was fine I could give him formula after, the only thing that mattered was giving him the opportunity to try food, it was up to him if he was going to eat it, if not no big deal just gave him formula after. I do remember he went on like a hunger strike for a week while getting in a new tooth while he was 9 months and it really freaked me out since he’s always been such a lightweight, 18-20th percentile for weight but as soon as the tooth came through he went right back to eating. He’s 20 months now and eats like a champ! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807249 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:44:13 +0000 MsBAM 2807249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s crazy how pediatricians give out different advice. Mine always says food first because “he’ll fill up on milk”. He’s 9 months old...... isn’t he supposed to drink milk?!?? I can’t force feed the him! If his mouth is shut or he’s playing with his food nothing I can do!!!<br /> When I called the nurse at the doctors office today to discuss what the med student said she said usually a missed meal isn’t a problem and they do suggest it if they don’t eat, but because of his lower weight, the med student shouldn’t have said that. I think that’s crazy that even if he was normal weight they would have encouraged me to have him wait until the next meal.<br /> So I ask what if he refuses solids? She told me keep trying again if he doesn’t eat solids or else he’ll fill up on milk. So I’ll just feed solids all day long when I know he won’t eat enough? Sounds crazy to me. I’ll just stick with what everyone is saying here and offer 3x a day and let him practice and keep nursing :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/lo-isnt-eating-solids-well#post-2807246 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 14:38:58 +0000 Silva 2807246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah thats terrible advice. I'm surprised a med student didn't have more updated information about feeding babies. My husband is a pediatrician and they had several presentations about this, including one specific to baby led weaning.</p> <p>Food before one is just for fun. The majority of your child's nutrition should come from breast milk at 9 months. We were always told to nurse before solids until closer to age one.</p> <p>You're doing a great job- your baby will figure out the solids. </p>