Daughter Only Wants Cereal

No worries! She really doesn't need anything but formula/breastmilk until she is a year old. Don't stress about it and try again later. She will be fine!

Don't worry. It's fine that she is only eating cereal at this age. You may want to gradually add a little fruit to the cereal and see if she likes that better.

Hi K.,
7 months is still a little early for pureed foods. My pediatrician had me start cereal at 6 months and pureed foods at 9 months. I don't think you have to worry to much yet.
Also start with pureed veggies first instead of fruits.
Babies like the sweet taste of fruit and may be reluctant to eat veggies after getting to know the sweet flavors.
Best Wishes.
M.

She has plenty of time to adjust to food. Right now, it's only practice, not nutritional so let her go at her own pace. Most of her calories/nutrients should be from breastmilk or formula. She'll get the 'food thing', I promise...just let her experiment. Also, I've never known a baby (my 3 included) who ACTUALLY got spoiled on fruit and then refused veggies. It seems to be a myth. I also have to argue a bit with the moms who said purees taste bad...they actually taste exactly like the food in it's natural state...that is, before we ruin it with seasonings. Your baby will be fine, though. I've read that it can take a bunch of tries before a baby accepts a new food!

~L.

Try giving her "adult" food in teeny tiny bites ... well, not super small, just small enough that she won't choke. My daughter was like that too, and eventually stopped eating baby cereal as well. You could also try pureeing adult food in a blender (even if it's seasoned hamburger or spaghetti meat) ... baby food tends to be bland and smell awful. Except for Gerber's Dutch Apple Dessert, that's yummy. lol

She might think the tastes are too potent! But if she's eating it with cereal, at least she's getting the vitamins and being exposed to new flavors, so keep that ups and add less and less cereal over time. She'll get the hang of it.

Another idea. Is it a textural thing? My daughter only wanted to eat store bought puree'd vegetables. I finally realized that I needed to really puree them good in the blender and then she'd eat mine just as good. She didn't like having to learn a new taste AND and new texture at the same time! She still balks at foods that have to be chewed up well, and loves soups, so hey whatever works. The goal to me is to get her used to the flavors of the different vegetables, she'll learn to tackle the textures as she gets older.

Best wishes!

I dont think there is anything wrong with what you are doing. If you mix half a jar of baby food in with the cereal, she is getting a really really healthy meal. Not only is she getting her vegie or fruit intake needed for the day, but she is getting all the nutrients that are in the cereal too. I did this also with my second son....he started on people food at 8 1/2 months 1 becuz he hated the baby food and 2 becuz he wanted what all of us were eating so I gave it to hima nd eats so much better than my first who is a very picky eater.

As long as she is eating that is all that matters. If you have to mix it with cereal at least she is still getting some babyfood. I would suggest trying to slowly wean the cereal out of the mixture. She simply may not like the texture of the babyfood. Good luck.

I would not worry about it. I mixed all my kids foods with cereal it gives it textures and makes it thicker and not so runny plus it add extra iron, vitamins and fiber. Kids know what they like she maybe ready to move up to stage two or if make her food she may be ready to get things with a little more textures. Hope this helps.

Hi K.-
Your daughter sounds perfectly normal for 7 months old. I would just keep mixing some fruit in with a little cereal to get her to eat it- no harm done. She may be showing signs of being a finicky eater in the future, but relax and just give her what she will eat for now.
Good luck,
M.

Hi K.---I agreee with the other moms who suggest that you just be patient. I would just offer her things from the table that you make the rest of the family for dinner, of course at a size and texture appropriate for a 7 month old. She will pretty much let you know when she is ready for more variety.

I have had the pleasure of working with many great health care professionals in my home based wellness education business, and one of them is Dr. Bill Sears. You may know him from appearances on Dr. Phil and Oprah, and as a contributor to Parnent and Baby Talk magazines. You can find all kinds of great info on childrens health and dietary recommendations at his website, www.askdrsears.com. If you are concerned with your daughter, or the rest of the family, getting enough of the right kinds of nutrients, he recommends, as do I, a really great supplement called Juice Plus+. It is made of 15 of the most densely nutritious fruits and veggies which have been juiced and then the dehydrated juice powders put into capsule, chewable or gummie forms. And JP+ is different than almost all of the vitamin and mineral supplements that you can buy, because it has published original reseach that shows it actually does something in the body.

If you are interested in any additional info about Dr. Sears, serving sizes or suggestions for kids, or about Juice Plus+, please feel free to contact me at any time. There is NO obligation for the info. I look forward to talking to you.
In health, D. ###-###-#### www.dianeshealthed.com

If she will eat it mixed with the cereal...that's fine.

Also, maybe make your own purees. Have you tried the jar stuff?? It does NOT taste good in many cases. I figure if I don't like the taste... why would my daughter.

Also, and I know you're going to think I'm nuts... have you tried giving her soft cooked veggies?? Like broccolli? Truly, they can eat it. Their gums are much harder then you think. And the chance of choking is minimal, just as with anything sit by her when she's eating.

My daughter has been eating 'table' food since she was 6 months old. Honestly, she HATED purees whether I made it or bought it. Wouldn't even take it in cereal.

At this young age, milk (either formula or breast) should be the primary source of food. Solids at this point are just for practice. Milk through the first year is the primary source of calories and nutrients.

As I said, I've been giving my daughter soft cooked table food (starting with veggies for several months and then moving on when she got more teeth). She's now 15 months old and there is really nothing she won't at least try. In the beginning make sure the shapes are 'stick shape'. Broc is really great since it has a natural handle. Parsnips are also a big hit with my daughter.

Google: babyled weaning. You'll get some good info.

Dont worry.. she will eat food someday.

MY daughter hated food too... she liked the bland flavor of cereal but not baby food. but we kept trying and eventually she liked baby food.

I would wait a week or two. then try the baby food again.

Most babies like the bananas and apples flavors.. peaches and pears are not as popular.

Remember there is no reason that the baby has to eat the baby food or the cereal. ALL-- of the nutrition for the first year comes from breastmilk or formula.. food is just practice for eating.

Some kids love solid foods from the start others do not.. but everyone eats food eventually -- dont worry.

*grin* were you a picky eater by chance? Just give her the cereal. This too shall pass. My son only wanted cheese for months, now he won't eat it at all. Life is too short to worry about it.

Happy day!

S.

Check out www.wholesomebabyfood.com!

I'd give up on the baby food and use simple, easy to digest table foods that aren't likely to trigger allergies - applescauce, bananas, baked white or sweet potato, etc. Just mash things a little or use a baby food grinder. The pureed stuff is disgusting - sounds like a smart girl! You'll save money this way too.

She sounds perfectly normal to me. It also sounds like she might have a texture issue with the pureed foods. I would get a little chopper machine an just give her regular foods that are easily digestible chopped up really fine. You might find she'll be a better eater with foods that taste better.

At seven months I wouldn't worry about it. As long as she is getting her formula as well.

Hi K.,
I wouldn't worry about it, she just got started eating solids. I'm a registered dietitian and got questions like these all the time while I was working with infants and children. It takes a little while for babies to develop tastes for foods. My 4 year old never ate much pureed food but just before a year when we started some table foods she finally showed interest. The important thing is that she's getting breastmilk and formula, the other stuff is just to get her started. And I would be happy she's eating pureed food and cereal mixed. Babies change so much, you think you got them figured out then they change on you.

It's still okay that she wants baby food at 7 months old. After all, she's still a baby. We started my daughter on real food at 8 months and for a straight solid week and she got the hang of it and loved it ever since. Maybe she's not ready for the texture yet or even the flavor of what you gave her. She doesn't have to eat it that way. You can give it to her with just formula or water mixed in and between then give her a spoonful of fruit or vegtable and don't force anything or you'll really have an issue. But still always keep trying that same food she doesn't want another day. Be consistent

Have you tried making home=made baby foods - maybe she'd prefer the taste. What about mashed banana or mashed avocado - they taste better than jars. Homemade fruit sauces are easy too. As she gets a bit older, just give her whatever you guys are eating but don't season it with salt before hand. Then liquidize the food or mash it up. She might like mashed carrots, sweet potatoes etc as they are sweet - you could add some breast milk or formula to make them softer. Good luck -Alison