Starting 5 month old on cereal & is refusing

[anneis]

As reccommened by my Dr, my LO needs to gain a bit more weight so he suggested starting on solids, 1st cereal.  She shows major interest when we eat and when I am holding her she does try to grab the drink that I am holding. She is breastfed with the occasional formula at night and at grandma's.  As for the cereal she barely opens her mouth and when we do get it in there she seems totally disgusted....I am managing only 3-5 tiny baby spoonfuls.....more me putting it in, than her accepting it.  Any suggestions?  should I try different kinds.....although not looking forward to buying stuff that will not be eaten.  She likes sitting in her high chair.  Any help would be great!!

[Lolly]

We started my LO on cereal at about that age because we thought he was ready. He was very interested in us eating but was very much like your LO when we tried feeding. We left it for a few weeks and came back to it and he was much more interested - with hindsight he wasn't ready just interested in what we were doing.

Have you tried increasing her milk intake? Milk has more calories than the early solids and if her weight gain is slow you don't want her filling up on solids and not taking good milk feeds.

My Lo has really been more interested in finger foods and feeding himself - have you had a look at the baby led weaning (BLW) thread, many babies really don't like the puree stage and do better self feeding from the start!

HTH!

Laura

[Freya'sMum]

Following on from the pp, there is a BLW FAQ and also a Finger Foods for Young Babies thread with some good starter suggestions

Ax

[lovedtodeath]

I agree with the BLW suggestion. Stick to high calorie stuff. Avocados and pancakes work well. But, some babies don't like avocados unless they are pureed and thinned. I am sorry, but I think you will have to experiment. I believe all of us have wasted money on refused solids.

Sorghum or Milo flour also makes a great porridge. Very sweet and tastes good to me too...baby cereal tastes like cardboard.

[yaya]

Having the same issue with my 5.5 month old...

[tylersmommy]

Sometimes lack of interest in solids can be a cue that your LO isn't ready yet, sometimes it just means that your LO is taking her time getting used to a new way of eating. It's okay to keep trying but if you or your LO seem to be getting frustrated, take some time off and come back to it again. Both my kids started solids at 6 mo and it took them several weeks to get even slightly interested. Even then, they both barely ate until they were old enough to start finger foods and BLW.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, just give it time. Like Laura said, breastmilk and formula have waaaaay more calories than solids, so you might increase milk if you're looking to increase weight gain. Solids can actually work against you, since they can decrease milk intake.

[anneis]

Thanks for all the great advice.  She is very interested but I guess that doesn't always mean she wants in on the action.  To increase her milk feeds, since she is br. fed, would I just offer more feeds?  She is on a 4 hr EASY....I also supplement formula at night.  Thanks
anneis

[anneis]

Hi still just wondering on how to increase milk feeds, do I just feed more, from both sides when bfeeding, or give formula instead or both?

[Lolly]

Hi

Can't help on the BF side as we bottle fed, you could post on the BF forum, but if she is taking full feeds and is satisfied and lasting a good time she may be taking as much as she will. I know some people use breast compressions to get a bit more into them. When she is bottle fed how much is she taking?

Laura

[lovedtodeath]

Remember to cluster feed. We usually do this in the morning and before bed. For a 4 hour EASY, she should still be nursing the same number of times she was before, I think 7 is recommended. At the end of the day you wait 1-2 hours between feeds instead of four.

[liacarmen]

I'd say it certainly couldn't hurt to see if she'd take both sides, that's what I would try.

[lovedtodeath]

Tracy said to start offering both sides at 12 pounds