Hi Mamas!
My 7 month old son wants nothing to do with rice cereal! We've tried everything to get him to eat it, like mixing it with breast milk, or with apple juice, even putting some Gerber 1st Foods pears or apples in it, but he just will not eat it. I've tried a dozen different things, but I only get pursed lips and a turned head. My first born son had no problem eating rice cereal around 6 months, so I'm a bit frustrated. My baby boy is also approx. 22 lbs at 7 months, so our Pediatrician is pushing less breast milk and moving on to baby foods to thin him out a bit. He's also lengthened the time in between bottles for when he's hungry, so I know he needs additional nutrition from another source. Any thoughts, ideas, great suggestions? I'll try anything!
Rice cereal has NO nutritional value whatsoever; just give him some veggies or fruit instead - straight up! Plus, have YOU ever tried that stuff? uber-yuck! lol
I really wouldn't worry about 'thinning' him out at this point. Keep giving him as *much* breastmilk as he wants/needs and give solids just in-addition-to. Babies 'thin out' all on their own once they start running around. Worry not :o)
This happened with my oldest son as well. Just as some others have mentioned, I finally tried the oatmeal and he liked it. Good luck!
heres the problem: the doctor is not the parent. he doesnt have the right instincts. you have to decide whats right for your baby. many moms dont have their kids on solids until a year old, so your baby is not missing out by breastfeeding. you are giving him the best, the specific milk for his specific body, and for his specific age. breastmilk changes over time, and its the perfect, most superior food for your baby. solids arent required nutritionally before a year old, so he will be fine if hes not on solids. besides, if you pressure him, its not a good experience. introducing solids is supposed to be more for texture and fun right now, not nutrition.
any doctor who "blames" breastfeeding for your baby's size is a fool. dont let ANYONE tell you that your baby is too fat, ESPECIALLY if you are breastfeeding! its so wrong. your baby is getting the best nutrition possible. some doctors just dont understand it, and they flat out ignore it too. you need to listen to yourself and your baby. you are doing the right thing. just keep nursing!! make solids fun, but dont be upset if hes not eating them! its ok!! :) i promise. it is ok!
get ahold of a local or nearby la leche leauge group or leader. not only will they have the experience of nursing their own baby, but they also know about what kind of bad information people spread (including doctors) and what to do, say, and information on all kinds of related breastfeeding topics. most of all, they give you support to keep up the good work!! no matter what any doctor says, you are doing the best, the right thing for you and your baby and your family. just keep it up, and lose the stress over solids! !!! ;)
www.llli.org
I think your pediatrician is off his rocker! Breastmilk (or formula) is *primary* nutrition for the entire first year. The entire first year. Solids should never, ever replace a nursing session. It makes absolutely no sense to take away the best nutrition possible for him(breastmilk) and replace it with something(cereal) that has absolutely no nutritional value. And fruits and veggies have no protein or essential fats that infants need for proper growth and development.
Many, many breastfed babies bulk up in the first several months then lean out just fine. Your doc doesn't sound very educated when ti comes to infant nutrition or feeding a breastfed baby.
My second wouldn't accept solids until she was 9 months old. And you know what? So what! I really think breastbed babies are very adept and knowing what they need and what they don't need. He is clearly telling you he does not need or want solids right now. Don't push it. Follow his lead just as you do now with nursing.
You need a different pediatrician!
Breastmilk is the OPTIMAL exclusive nutrition for the entire first year... PERIOD.
Why is your infant not nursing on your breast one demand? If your baby isn't hungry - he will not eat - THAT IS A GOOD THING! Child obesity and diabetes is an extremely troubling epidemic in America... and having your child's Dr pretty much mandating empty, non nutritional calories and force feeding is very troubling.
I would try to get back to breastfeeding from the breast and not only feeding on demand, but also offering the breast often.
You should also consider - your #2 may simply be one to bulk up before a growth spurt (which is very common!!) and is different than your 1st born - which is definitely an obvious statement.
With my first, we offered every food imaginable, starting at 6 months, and she rejected EVERYTHING. Until she was 10 months, when I broke down and gave her some ice cream, she loved it, and after that, was willing to try anything.
Your baby doesn't need the other foods. Keep offering options, but don't stress if he won't take it. Keep up with the breast milk and don't stress.
Good luck!
He doesn't need to eat rice cereal (there's actually a recent study about rice cereal). It is recommended as a first food simply because it is unlikely to cause allergies or digestive problems. Neither one of my babies would eat it. They did eat the oatmeal baby cereal. He's probably old enough you could even start with some simple fruits and vegetables (one at a time spaced out over days). Neither one of my kids ate a lot of solid food at that age. I suspect your son will "thin out" on his own once he starts crawling and then walking. I'm a little surprised by your pediatrician because breast milk is usually recommended as a way to prevent future obesity. Good luck.
try oatmeal instead since he's a little older.
Rice cereal is recommended as a starter food, because there is little to no chance of baby being allergic. It does have iron, but is not necessary in baby's diet. It's great to try different foods, but it is not necessary and certainly not a cause for stress. Just keep offering. He'll eventually give it a try. One of my kids was never really interested in food until he could handle finger foods. We just kept offering until he was mature enough to try a few on his own. He's healthy and happy as can be.
Try pureed what you are eating some kids just dont like baby food and at 7 months he should be able to handle it.
My daughter would never eat rice cereal. Oatmeal or later, the mixed stuff. And someone said cereal has no value...it has iron (Iron fortified), I know that, and on my childcare food program, it "qualifies" as the protein item, in place of those ishy meat baby foods.
I have a (almost) 8 mos old and (almost) 9 mos old babies in care. We were just discussing their weights yesterday as both were in last week for ear checks and got weighed! They are 21.5 pounds and 19.5 pounds..the younger breast fed boy is heavier than the older formula and TONS of baby food/cereal fed girl. Not a ton different than your little one. Neither has been told to alter feedings.
I do home made baby food for my childcare babies and have found in the last few years since I do this, babies eat better. JMO..and its super easy. Just a thought or option to try.
My daughter didn't eat anything but BM until over 8 mos. She just wasn't ready. Just keep trying, but don't push and frustrate him.. He'll get it - then watch out!
I agree this is not something to stress about but let me offer you this advice. Try playing with the consistency My son wouldn't touch it when it was all thin and runny like they suggest. I made it nice and thick for him and just kind of stuck it on his lips. he licked it off and worked his way into it. Or just try putting a few different foods on his tray and let him explore with his fingers first - he's more likely to put some in his mouth. It will be a mess. Also I'd recommend making your own baby food because it tastes so much better. This website (that I do not work for, just a huge fan) will help you get started. wholesomebabyfood.com
try the oatmeal my daughter HATED the rice cereal but loved the oatmeal
Will he take oatmeal or barley cereal instead? My first one I just did rice cereal with but my 2nd one I did all 3.
He might NOT be ready for solids and should not be pushed if that is the case. Breastmilk is perfectly adequate until HE is ready for solids. My pediatrician reminded me that his first was on solids at 4 months and his second on solids at 9 months--every baby is different. My first was on solids at 4 months and my second around 7 1/2. Neither of my boys would tolerate rice cereal so we started them both on oatmeal and they did much better. The rice is pretty gross. A 7 month old baby does NOT need to be "thinned out," so please don't let that affect your feeding choices! Go with your baby's cues--babies have to be taught and conditioned to overeat, they do not do it naturally.
