6.5 mo not enjoying solids

[momtoelise]

Jack is BF - on a 4 hour EASY routine: around 7, 11, 3, 7, and then still gets a DF around 10 pm.  I started giving him some rice cereal after the 3:00 feeding a week before he was 6 mos.  He did ok for awhile - not eating much, but a little.   I've moved on to trying a few veggies/fruit with the cereal (have used both rice cereal & oatmeal).  It's gradually gone down hill & he generally makes faces like what I'm giving him is awful, then will maybe eat a few bites & then I give up (because I want to keep it a positive experience & don't want to force it in him).

I'm wondering if I should take a break for a few days - or maybe go back to just plain rice cereal mixed with BM (maybe the taste would be more familiar & appealing?) - or keep trying with what I've been doing.  Any thoughts?  I'm stumped - my DD liked everything we gave her & did great with solids from the start....

[Peek-a-boo]

Sounds like you're taking the right approach--keeping it positive and not forcing it when he rejects food. 

You might experiment with offering food at different times.  I feel like my LO takes to new food a bit better at breakfast time. 

Are you mixing the fruit/veg with the cereal?  You might try that, adding just a tiny bit of fruit/veg so that LO can gradually get accustomed to the new flavor. 

I will say that my LO actually did better with fingerfoods from a young age (check out the baby lead weaning information on the FAQ board:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=92560.0 ) as she prefered to be in control of what went into her mouth.

Also, since he's only 6.5 months, there's really no pressure for him to taking lots of solids.  At this stage it's really not about calories.  He's getting all the nutrients he needs from breast milk.  It's really just for experiencing new tastes and textures. 

[momtoelise]

Sounds like you're taking the right approach--keeping it positive and not forcing it when he rejects food. 

You might experiment with offering food at different times.  I feel like my LO takes to new food a bit better at breakfast time. 

Are you mixing the fruit/veg with the cereal?  You might try that, adding just a tiny bit of fruit/veg so that LO can gradually get accustomed to the new flavor. 

I will say that my LO actually did better with fingerfoods from a young age (check out the baby lead weaning information on the FAQ board:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=92560.0 ) as she prefered to be in control of what went into her mouth.

Also, since he's only 6.5 months, there's really no pressure for him to taking lots of solids.  At this stage it's really not about calories.  He's getting all the nutrients he needs from breast milk.  It's really just for experiencing new tastes and textures. 

Thanks Bethany - and I love your "whatever it is, it's just a phase" - so true.

To answer your question, I am mixing them with the cereal - we actually tried without mixing it once (to see if that would help) & he spit it straight out. 

About the finger foods, when did you start them?  I can't remember for sure when I did with DD, but I'm thinking more like 8 mos.  I'll do some looking to see about safe foods at this age.... 

I probably could try a different time of day....  I chose the afternoon feeding because I figured my supply was lowest at that time, but it's worth a try to see if he's more willing some other time.

Thanks again!

[Peek-a-boo]

With my first I waited until 8-9 months to do finger foods because I was terrified of choking.    With #2, I'd done some reading about baby lead weaning.  It's a philosophy that you never do purees.  That you offer larger pieces of food with natural handles--stick shaped things like a spear of asparagus, piece of brocolli, carrot sticks, sweet potatoe "fries" etc.  Baby picks them up in her fist and then chews on the part that sticks out.  It puts her in control and she will just suck/gum off small bits.  We've had no trouble at all with choking.  It's a really different approach, but it has definitely made solids more fun at our house.  DD is able to eat while we do--rather than before or after so that some one can feed her.  She seems a bit more willing to experiment with new foods since she is in control of them.  Check out the link and support thread at the top of the page if it's something that seems interesting to you.