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@Adira: Try mashing up a banana, that way there is some texture.

i've heard of some kids not being interested in solids until 8 or 9 months, or even later. so no rush. but yes, i think it's a good idea to keep offering within reason. no need for it to be stressful--if he keeps refusing for a week or two and it gets tiresome, take a break and revisit in a couple of weeks. says the person who knows nothing about feeding solids.

for what it's worth, we started offering oatmeal cereal mixed with fruit-based purees. vegetables were and continue to be a bust.

@Adira: I honestly think you should just stop offering solids at all for about a week and revisit then. He does NOT sound like he is ready for solids.

@Adira: I don't know bc I'm not there. But from your postings either he's not liking what you're offering OR he's just not ready yet. You know your child best so don't let others pressure you into forcing solids on him! Maybe a better bet is if he refuses to stop then try again with something new in a few days?

@mamabolt: exactly!

My other fear is if you keep trying to "force" it on him it might turn him off even more. KWIM?

I would nurse first then try offering.
If he doesn't like it, take a break. DS wasnt interested in eating until he was 7+ months old. Now he eats like a champ!
He wasnt thrilled with the purées I made him, so I tried pouches and he loved them. Then I started copying the combos he liked and now he loves the purées I make too.

@Adira: exactly! I think it's normal for kids to make faces of disgust or "wtf" when they taste food for the first time...I would just keep trying, but like you said, with no pressure--if he turns his head away, then that's it. If he's just making faces, then maybe try another taste.

@Adira: yea, exactly. I would offer him the spoon once and if his mouth is closed then leave it at that and try again the next night or in a few days.
Also when it was a particular food that LO did not like the first time I offered I tried again in a few weeks. Like she hated bananas the first few times I offered it. Finally she liked it and now it's one of her favorites! She also generally likes it when I offer the whole banana in lieu of chunks. So maybe he wants to feed himself?? Don't know just grasping at straws

@Adira: just keep offering. I am trying to get my LO to eat non puréed foods. She just pushes things around on her tray (or mushes them in her hands) and then throws them over the side of her high chair. My Ped said just keep offering, and eventually she will eat the food instead of just moving it around.

@Adira: Some of the moms at my play group say they have to heat everything. Their babies won't take purees (or anything) at room temp! I don't have any experience or advice to share, but thought maybe you might like to try that

@Adira: that is what I would personally do if I were you. If he grabs at your food when you're eating, I would let him have it and play with it. I am of the mind that babies being introduced to food should be low pressure and fun. I think most indicate when they're ready to actually eat vs play and when they're ready to eat more finger foods than mashes or purees if they're given both. I don't think you can go wrong listening to your baby in situations like these.

Again, you have zero to lose by taking a break.. He is young it's not like two weeks relaxing on the issue is going to destine him to never chewing a solid meal. I know from familial experience pushing foods or withholding finger foods can lead to babies dreading meal time and refusing all together. Fortunately there are OTs who focus on mealtime issues - but I'm guessing most babies come around on their own.

I would stop offering for a while and come back. We gave DD a couple of spoonful of sweet potato and she didnt know what to do with it. We used pouch food for that one and when I made our own sweet potato and it was a little thicker she loved it!

Maybe at dinner just try putting some finger foods on his tray and see what he does. I know Isaac really likes holding a spoon while I feed him. Sometimes it goes in hi mouth, sometimes he swings it around.

I would keep making small quantities of the cereal and offer. Try different temps and thicknesses.

@Adira: Tell your DH if he's so concerned about it, he can take over the feedings. Just kidding.