Weight Gain with Six Months Old

She may not be ready. But, I would stick to ONE food. I would start with a veggie like sweet potatoe. It's a little sweet and a good veggie to start with. But, again you might just want to stick with just one. To much of a variety could confuse her. Or you could mix the sweet potatoe and the oatmeal together and stay with it. I started my daughter on solids at the age of 6 months too. It took some time, but she finally decided she liked it.
Good luck!

hi-
when infants first learn to eat "solids" (e.g. stage 1 purees) it is normal to push the food out with the tongue. make sure to make feeding enjoyable not stressful and introduce foods slowly (improant to look for allergies/tolerance to new foods).

For weight gain see http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp
Breastfed and formula-fed babies grow at different rates. In general, breastfed babies tend to be leaner, which is healthier, especially in the long run. Here's a general guide to the growth of breastfed babies during the first year:

Weight gain of 4-7 ounces (112-200 grams) a week during the first month
An average of 1-2 pounds (1/2 to 1 kilogram) per month for the first six months
An average of one pound (1/2 kilogram) per month from six months to one year
Babies usually grow in length by about an inch a month (2.5c.m.) during the first six months, and around one-half inch a month from six months to one year.
here is a place to calculate growth: http://www.babycenter.com/baby-child-growth-percentile-ca...

more info: http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y... (how to tell if baby is ready to feed, haow much to feed)
http://www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=304

hope that helps!

It's a natural reflex in babies to push things out of their mouths that are not breast milk or formula. Both of my daughters got late starts on solids. Once that reflex disappears she'll be fine with solids. Don't make it a struggle. Listen to the signals she's giving you, be patient, and attentive. It'll work out.

If your baby is pushing the food out of her mouth then she is not ready for solids. Not every child is at this age and there is no set amount that she should be eating. At this early age food is only for practice and should be a fun experience of getting to try little things here and there. If she isn't interested I would suggest waiting a few weeks and then trying again.

As to the weight gain, that is also not something that is set in stone. Some babies gain faster than others. The only important thing is that she does gain at least some weight.

Try not to worry about solids and weight gain right now and instead just enjoy your little girl.

Updated

If your baby is pushing the food out of her mouth then she is not ready for solids. Not every child is at this age and there is no set amount that she should be eating. At this early age food is only for practice and should be a fun experience of getting to try little things here and there. If she isn't interested I would suggest waiting a few weeks and then trying again.

As to the weight gain, that is also not something that is set in stone. Some babies gain faster than others. The only important thing is that she does gain at least some weight.

Try not to worry about solids and weight gain right now and instead just enjoy your little girl.

A baby not accepting solid food at 6 months could be completely normal. Some babies don't figure out how to get the tongue/swallowing reflex coordinated for awhile yet. And new flavors might annoy her right now. Watch for her to take an interest in, and perhaps even reach for, what you're putting in your mouth. That's usually an early sign of readiness to try additional foods.

I notice you seem concerned about autism in a separate question. If that's just based on your daughter's refusal to eat solids, relax. Lots of children have sensory integration issues, which may make a variety of stimuli like light, sound, flavors, textures and certain kinds of touch more challenging for them. Mostly, these are not signs of autism, though they can be very strong in autistic kids. Usually, they are just individual quirks to work around, and most children eventually learn to cope with them and lead completely normal lives.

My son wouldn't eat anything solid till he was almost a year old. We introduced cereals, veggies, fruits, EVERYTHING to him gradually starting at 6 months, but he just wasn't having it. Don't stress about it, she'll catch on eventually... every kid is on a different schedule. I try not to pay attention to those growth schedules, and what your child should be doing by a certain age... it usually leads to unnecessary worry. My son is 2 1/2 and super healthy, super tall, super heavy!

She's not ready.

Keep in mind, that for the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition... NOT solids and NOT other liquids.
This is per our Pediatrician as well.
A baby... can TOTALLY survive AND flourish, just on breastmilk or Formula, for the 1st year. Even longer.

Solids at this age, is only an introduction. And for the 1st year. It is NOT their main 'meal' nor their main intake. NOR do babies this age, eat 3 times a day as adults do. It has to be gradually... built up... so their systems can also adjust. Over the course of a year even.

Your baby also still has her 'tongue reflex' whereby they DO push foods out of their mouth. This is an indication, that she is not ready for solids, yet.

Here is a good link for you:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_introducing-solid-foods_113.bc
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

If you force solids and she is not ready, developmentally or biologically... it will not be good for her. The internal organs, also has to develop too, still and her mouth reflexes.

Your baby is so young. Its fine.
Don't start food battles yet... because, throughout childhood, food eating in kids... REALLY vary and it is normal. If you get frustrated about it now... and later... then the child will too. And then they won't enjoy meal times.
Go by her cues.

all the best,
Susan

HI Nikki,

Go and get yourself a copy of "Child of Mine" by Ellyn Satter. It's a great book on feeding kids 0-toddlers. Some children (mine included) take a VERY long time to get used to the idea of eating solids. Keep offering, but not forcing yummy food (sweet potatoes, or fruit). She'll figure it out.

Breastmilk and/or formula should be her main source of calories and nutrients for the first 12 months, so don't fret about what she's eating, or not. If you're concerned about her weight gain, talk with her Dr.

C.

I think she's not ready for solids. It's still early. My doc didn't have us give solids until almost a year old! Talk to your doc.

Your baby is telling you she's not ready for the food yet. Lay off and try again in a few weeks. Both my kids only STARTED eating solids at six months.

-M

My son is turning one in a week but he was about 18 lbs. when he was 6 months old. When he was born he was 1 oz. shy of 8 lbs. We started him on rice cereal and baby food at 6 months and he seemed to like it. That is also because when he was 4 months he was already becoming disinterested in the bottle and formula. He didn't want to have to suck on the nipple anymore for his food. I didn't want to feed him solids either at 4 months so it was so much work to try to get him to drink his formula from 4 months on. After we started him on solids, I had to add his formula in his solid to make him drink it that way.

Every baby is different. There are babies that won't take on solids until they are one year old. Besides ,during the first year their main nutrition should be from breastmilk or formula, food is just for practice. I wish my son was more into formula but he seemed to be more interested in solids so I had no choice but to give him what he wants to eat and sneak his formula in through his food.

I tried to start my son on solids at 6 months, but he just wasn't interested. So I waited another month or so and tried again, and at that point he was ready. Just give her a little more time, she'll be fine.

All kids of all ages vary in how they grow. This includes inches, pounds and skills. Sounds like your child still has the tongue thrust reflex which protects babies from choking deaths. Keep introducing one food every few days (or once a week) till you see this reflex come to an end. Then offer a new food a little at a time and watch for potential allergy reactions.

My son was 9lbs 1 1/2 oz at birth. By 5 months he doubled his birth weight and by 1 yr he was just shy of tripling it (25 lbs). He didn't really take to solids till he was about 13 months old. Once he started walking (at 14 months) his weight gain slowed. Although every baby is different, there is a wide range of what passes for normal. If your pediatrician isn't worried, I wouldn't worry either.

I read a great book about this when I had the same problem with my daughter- it's called "my child won't eat" and it's written by a pediatrician. It was so helpful. (http://www.amazon.com/My-Child-Wont-Eat-International/dp/...)
I recall one helpful advice that said that a baby "knows" when it is ready and that it isn't ready when the tongue pushes out. The baby's next attempt to communicate she isn't ready is to shut her mouth or turn her head to the side. The last ditch effort is to spit up or even throw up. Don't worry about it - your baby will eat when she is ready. Some readiness signs include her showing interest in your food (to eat, not to play) opening her mouth, and not having that tongue reflex. She'll be fine!

Also, some kids don't like the purees- my baby finally started solids around 10 months with finger foods (e.g., cheerios).