Advice on Eating and Sleeping

For sleep, there are two books I would recommend.
1. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
2. Baby Wise.

Regarding the food refusal and gagging:
My daughter does this too.
Here's what I figured was going on. When she isn't feeling the best (tummy ache, teething, a cold, or whatever) she refuses to eat. Just the same way I respond when I'm not feeling well.
She eats when she's hungry...once she's feeling better.
I just keep offering the food...if she eats...Yay.
If not, I make sure I am nursing her regularly and at least she is getting something.
The most important thing is that she gets fluids so she doesn't dehydrate.

Like you, I tried giving my daughter yogurt and she threw it up. I think that means she's just not ready for it.

I agree with the person who recommended the well mashed avocado...they are sooo good for babies and my girl loves them!

As for the added cereal in the bottle, that can be very dangerous. Please google it or read up on this on any baby website. It is NOT recommended.

Have you tried plain cheerios for a snack at the high chair?

Hope this helps!

My son did the same thing with the sleep issue.
He is 12 months now and still does it...
Idk what to do.
So i dont have much advice on that.
But the food thing...
Have you tries just stage 1 pureed foods?
If hes not eating those yet dont start with crackers...
that doesnt provide proper nutrtion.
Start with stage 1 pureed foods 1st
then 2nd and 3rd until he is ready for finger foods.
you sometimes have to try a food 10-20 times for a baby to learn to like it.
keep trying and he will eventually get it.
just put some food in front of him and if he wants to feed himself let him try.
my son started feeding himself at 8 months.
it might get messy but if it will get him to eat then it will be worth it

You've already had some good responses and advice, but here's my two cents. =) When my son doesn't eat well, it's usually teething or just him not feeling well. He's getting molars right now and it's hard to get him to eat anything. I think I would hold off on the table food, he seems a little young for that. I would just stick to baby food and cereal and formula. If he's not eating much during the day, he's probably trying to make up for it at night, which would explain why he wakes up. Maybe give him a little extra formula at night before he goes to sleep. Also, if you think he's teething, give him baby tylenol. Works wonders for us at night!

I also agree with the paci and lovey advice - my son has both, and they are great!! Hang in there, it sounds like you're a great mom. It will get better. Hopefully your doctor will have some suggestions too. Good luck!

Hi J.,

Poor thing--you must be exhausted! Sounds like your little guy may benefit from a lovey. My son started waking up through the night at around 9 months. I tried to let him cry it out which was very difficult. I accidentally left a blanket hanging on the side of his crib one night, and ironically, he didn't wake up crying that night. To this day, he chews on his blanket for comfort but most of the time only when he's sick or sleepy.

As for the eating, I have no idea. But he won't starve himself. Sounds like he's an independent little boy. Let him go for it with the spoon though--it's great that he wants to do it and practice makes perfect! Good luck!

Yes I have and he is 11 yrs old now and he still acts the same way i still try to get him to eat different foods practically beg for him to taste certain foods only for him to gag and he has been doing that since he was 8 months old I use to take him to the doctor every other week when he was 3 and 4 doc said he was fine let him eat what he likes and what he wants. After i realize that then it wasnt a problem today at 11 he still eats different from the family i can cook a full course meal and if it dont consist of his likes he eats a tv dinner, pot pie, or just peanut butter a bowl of cereal a grill cheese what he likes I keep foods that he likes and the doctor said let him eat as much and when he wants it. We think just because its good to us it should be good to them-not. I have other kids and they ate everything presented to them my last child totally different. So dont force it on him find his likes and dislikes as he gets older it will be the same. I remember he would only eat a spoon of peanut butter or just crackers and juice and no foods until he was ready. The doctor said when he gets hungry he will eat and he did just that but only what he liked.

First, take your child to the doctor to rule out any medical problems with the eating. It sounds like he may want to be more independent but doesn't have the skills yet with the spoon. When my son got to this stage of development, I took the baby food that he especially liked and mixed it with rice cereal until it was a paste. I gave that to him along with a spoon and let him go. He started out using his hands to move the paste to his mouth. Soon he was attempting to use the spoon to do it. This way, he could satisfy his hunger and learn his new skill.

As for sleeping, try giving him a little formula before bed and see if that helps. Offer different things as loveys - particularly items of different textures. Some like fuzzy, some like velvety, some like silky, etc. If he wakes in the night, pat his back a bit as he learns to go back to sleep.

Hello. I am having the same problem about sleeping with my 8 month old. I have gotten some great advice from the ladies here, like he is teething or putting cereal in with his last bottle before bedtime. I have started limiting the amount of time he naps during the day. And that seems to be helping so far. The little guy is so tired he just falls back asleep. It isn't a long term fix to the problem, but it hopefully wll give my whole family alittle peace.
I sorry, I have no advice about the food except to say sometimes when they are teething, they won't eat good. And I have heard of babies spitting up more while teething as well.
I wish you the best of luck with your little buddle of joy!

Your pediatrician can rule out any medical reasons but for now I'm thinking that your son is telling you that he's not ready for this kind of food. I would stick with the formula for now and then start with some finally mashed banana or avocado and then pureed vegetables. I think babies are really texture sensitive so if he's gagging he's clearly not ready for the textures that you're giving him. You might consider skipping the crackers all together until he's a toddler and by then he'll be gobbling them up. Your little guy will soon be eating table food with you, enjoy his babyhood.

As for the sleeping, it might be one of two things. He could be hungry, so try giving him those extra 2 oz before bedtime and see if that helps. Or he could need to suck on something. If you're not opposed to using pacifiers then maybe try giving him a paci in the middle of the night. If he's not hungry he may just need the comfort of sucking.

Good luck!