My baby boy is now 7 months and has been eating solid foods for a month now. But, he won't eat foods straight...meaning I have to mix it with rice cereal for him to eat it. Everytime I try to feed him a baby spoonful of carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, applesauce or whatever, he makes a sour face and refuses to eat it. However, if I dilute it a little bit in some rice cereal, he gobbles it up. He can eat half a Gerber container (1st foods) with 3 tbsp of rice cereal. Is this okay? Also, he's only in the 5th percentile for weight this month...any suggestions on how to help him gain weight/eat more?
Hi R.,
my son did the same thing when he was younger i think its just a phase because he now eats everything. no matter how you give it to him. he loves bananas in the jar or real bananas just give him some time and it will pass hope this helps.
From what I understand, many babies can be very particular about what they eat. I mean, for 6 months, he had nothing but formula, and then we give him this strange mushy stuff that he has to eat in a weird way? And now other stuff that tastes different? It's gotta be a shock, and probably one that not a few babies rebel at for awhile.
My son, while not quite as picky, had VERY definite taste buds even at an early age, which surprised me, and we were limited on what he would try, but often he would eat something after two weeks that he refused to eat when it was first tried. Even now, when he will eat most baby foods, we are struggling to move him into to "more" solid food because he doesn't seem to like to try new things.
My advice is just to give him what he'll eat. At the moment, most of his nutrients need to come from formula and/or breast milk, so the baby foods you are giving him, while important, are more to get him into eating solid foods than to give him nutrients he needs. Keep trying each day something different without the baby cereal, and I'm sure eventually he'll realize that it's not bad, and it's something he wants more of.
Good luck!
I wouldn't worry about the 5th percentile. As long as he is eating and drinking he is getting everything that he needs. If your doctor would have been concerned about it, they would have mentioned it and told you some things to do to add some weight to him.
As far as the rice cereal goes, I think that is a good thing that he won't eat the baby food without the cereal. It's packed with iron and a few other nutrients that they need anyway so you're one step ahead.
I hope this has been helpful. Take care. :)
I agree that if your pediatrician didn't say that your baby's weight gain was a problem, you shouldn't be too concerned about it. However, if you are truly worried about it, talk to his Dr. about a high calorie formula. They do have special, nutrient-rich formulas that you can buy, but make sure you discuss this with the pediatrician first. Also, you can try making your own baby food out of some of the same foods you fix for yourself. Just be sure to leave out the salt and other spices that may be too strong for him. You can grind up and puree fresh fruits and vegetables to see if he prefers this over the store-bought baby food. (I know that there are certain foods that you should not grind up for babies, but I'm not sure exactly which ones, so do some research first if you decide to try this option) Good luck!
