Hi IM's, I wrote in a few months ago about my DS not wanting solids yet. He is now 9mths and still won't touch solids. We have tried puréed foods as soon as the spoon gets near him he freaks and covers his face, so we tried letting him just play in the purée and feed himself but he wouldn't touch it. We then waited a few weeks (because he started getting very upset every time we sat him in the highchair) and tried baby led weaning and again he wouldn't touch the food and would freak when we tried to put anything near his mouth. He has just had his 4th tooth cut but it doesn't seem to make a difference if he is teething or not he still won't touch food. I have spoken to our health Nurse who has been seeing him since he was born and she said if he isn't eating by 9mths then they may have to organise to do further tests to find out what's wrong. Our Dr won't do anything about it he says just keep offering him more food.
I'm just worried as he only just put on enough weight between his 6mth & 8mth check ups, he is still having 5 formula bottles a day which the nurse said to cut down to try and get him eating but he still refused food and stopped sleeping altogether and was very upset when not having enough bottles.
Has any other IM had this or similar with the little one? Did they eventually eat? Or was there some health/medical reason behind it. I'm just worried as my DD was never like this, she is very petite and a small eater but always eats enough for her.
DS not wanting anything to do with solids!
DS not wanting anything to do with solids!
Posted in:
Baby & Toddler, Self Care
7 Replies
Hi every case is different this is just my story. My son did not like solids and when he did finally he struggled to eat anything that had lumps. As I've learned food in development is important and it has a great deal to do with speech. My son had low tone in his mouth and is 2 and will now eat anything but if he thinks it is too much work he'll leave it and eat something softer. Apraxia is what is going on with my son but it's probilbly not what your baby has but why I was Telling you was so you keep pushing for answers. Make it fun make a mess and play with food
Good luck
I'd try baby led weaning again, but the key is not to ever actually put anything in their mouth or face. Just put a few pieces of food (toast with avocado would be a good one, or sticks of steamed pumpkin or sweet potato) on a plate while he's in his high chair. maybe put some toys up there too for him to play with first then introduce the food. If he doesn't want anything then don't stress. Don't try to force him to eat anything, let him do the picking up and putting in his mouth. It may take a few goes before he actually starts to try anything thing but that's ok, keep trying for short periods of time. I wouldn't' keep him in the high chair for more than 10mins or so depending on how upset he is, you might be able to increase it each time. Try to time it in between bottle/breast feed so he's not too hungry for a feed or too full from the previous feed.. Baby led weaning isn't about you feeding him anything, its about him feeding himself. As long as he's getting milk at this age, food is just for fun. My 2nd daughter didn't really get the hang of solids till 9/10months and we did BLW from about 6/7months so it took her awhile to start to eat substantial amounts. If he's upset by the high chair, try a picnic type approach, put a mat on the floor with a plate of food for him to try at his own pace, you could show him how to eat by putting into your mouth and he might try to copy.
Reposted on the facebook page too and hope it helps! x
My daughter has always been a fussy eater to begin with she wouldn't eat any puréed food, one night we where having spaghetti and gave her some in her high chair and let her sit with us and watch us eat she slowly started to try things in her mouth by just coping what we were doing. Also as much as it's a pain perhaps try offer him something off ur plate when you eating such as mash potato sometimes like just like to be the same as everyone else
If I were you and my child wasn't showing any signs of readiness for solids I would be making a concerted effort to eat in front of them until they turn 1. If at the age of 1 there is still no interest in food I'd be seeking medical assistance to see if there is a physical cause.
My oldest was the same, nothing worked...so then we just gave her the foods we were eating as they were (softer and smaller of course). She never looked back after that.
Hi, I'm the IM that asked this question. Thank you all for all your help. I will keep trying Baby Led Weaning. We have tried feeding him off our plates also letting him grab food off our plate, but he just won't. He watches us eat and watches very closely as we put the fork into our mouths, but he still won't have anything to do with it. It's almost like he doesn't like the feel of food in his hands or mouth. Could it perhaps be a sensory thing? Our Dr mainly see's adults I might look at getting him into a paediatrician in the new year just to get a second opinion.
Now I think about it he won't even chew/suck on toys of any sort, only his own fingers. I tried to check his new tooth that is cutting tonight and I tried to open his mouth just a tiny bit to see the tooth and he clamped his mouth shut.