What to do when baby doesn't like a new food?

[*Lil t*]

Hello!

My baby is 6 months old and has been successfully eating rice cereal for the last two months. I introduced peas the other day (following his normal serving of cereal),  but he spit them out and would not eat them. The second day I fed half his portion of rice cereal first, then mixed the other half with the peas. Again, he had a face of pure disgust. It's obvious he doesn't like peas, or he just won't eat them now. My question is do I continue to try and feed him for a couple more days, as suggested to detect any allergies, or can I move on to something else? Any suggestions on good veggies/fruits to introduce first? I will be introducing veggies before fruit.

Thanks!

[Idahomom]

are you doing homemade or jarred?

We do homemade and I think peas have a very strong flavor.  Milder veg would be: sweet potatoes, squash, avacado.  They are also "sweeter" and you LO may like them more.

[teilvnav]

I would just move on and try something else. Try the peas again later and you might be pleasantly surprised! My LO's tastes have changed all over the place since he started solids. If you keep a journal of what you are feeding him, then you can note any allergic reactions as well as foods that you want to try again later.

In the early days I gave my DS carrots, peas, parsnips, squash, and sweet potato. Any of those would be good ones to try next. Here is a great website that you might find helpful: http://wholesomebabyfood.com. Have fun!

[Jiinx]

My lo is such a picky eater. I sometimes wonder if she'll ever eat All she'll eat are peas and carrots. Doesn't like squash or yams. eats bananas but gets an awful stomach cramp within an hour after this.

Babies are very sensitive to new tastes and smells. give the peas a break and revisit it again after a couple of weeks. There's sooo many more textures and tastes to have him experience in the meanwhile

good luck *hugs*

[*Lil t*]

I'm making my own baby food. Any other green veggies you suggest I start with? I heard green veggies are best to start with, then orange and yellow. What are your thoughts? I appreciate your help.

[Idahomom]

I'm going by the schedule in the book "Super Baby food" and it has orange and yellow veg first, along with pears, mango, peaches, and other mild fruits.

[teilvnav]

That's a great book. It isn't written in stone anywhere that you have to do veggies before fruit; just make sure you present a balance so your LO doesn't develop a sweet tooth too early!

[Jiinx]

some green foods, like broccoli, may cause gas and, ultimately, discomfort and is usually recommended at 9 months or so.

Green beans? I'm getting mummy mush brain at the moment!

Agree with pp..there's no rule..have fun with this wonderful new stage in your lo's life It's so precious seeing their reactions to new foods.

[Idahomom]

spinach? just a guess.....

[First Time Mom]

With the peas are you leaving the skin in? When dd was a baby starting solids she hated the skin, I used to steam the peas and then mush then through a strainer to get rid of the skin.

[Texomamama]

Agree with one of the pp's who suggested avocado.  Pretty mild in flavor, packed with nutrients.  Like OP and PP's have suggested, I too was advised to start with green veggies (peas, green beans, avocado), then yellow (squash), then orange (carrots, sweet potato), then add fruits in (applesauce, pears, prunes etc).  Basically, as I understood it, you work from the milder and blander food up to the good stuff.  After all, if every baby got sweet potatoes and fruits first, nobody would want those yucky peas

[Idahomom]

It was so funny going through the grocery checkout with a bag full of avacados.....the checkout lady asked if I was making guacamole.  I said no, baby food.  She gave me the strangest look and "avacado baby food?"

[First Time Mom]

LOL Jen! Are you mixing the avacado with anything or just mashing it on it's own and are you freezing it? I can't remember what I did with the avacado for Milena when she was a baby, I just remember that she never did like avacado.

[Idahomom]

I smashed them all with a potato smasher, then froze them in ice cube trays.  I thaw one and add water to make it more smooth and smash the little lumps with the spoon.  I wouldn't say DS likes it, but he tolerates it.