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Mom’s Question:

My 10-month-old baby was an exclusively breastfeed baby since birth and we started introducing food when she was 7 months, but she is just not interested in food, not her food anyways, and hates to eat from a spoon.

My food she wants, but more out of curiosity than anything else. I let her try sometimes if it is not something offending to her. She’ll play with it around and then throw it out.

I’m extremely worried about her iron levels since she is not getting it from anywhere, but the Dr says breast milk is good and all she needs until a year and not to worry about, but he also offered to do a blood test which I didn’t do.

She is a healthy baby and is hitting all the milestones in time if not before, but I do know of some babies that at this stage are eating 3-course meals 3 times a day and my baby in nibbling here and there.

What do you think? Sorry about the mess if I don’t make much sense typing one-handed here.

TIA!

Ellie


 

Tips When Baby Won’t Eat Solids

I completely understand your concern! It’s tough when you have a very picky eater baby, especially during this second half-year when babies are “supposed to” transit from breast milk and formula to solid foods.

The first thing I would do in your situation is to accept the doctor’s offer of a blood test. As I’m sure you know since your pregnancy, it is a really simple and quick test. Most likely, your daughter’s iron levels are just fine and the test results will take a whole lot of worrying off your back. If not, you’ll have the doctor’s attention! Some things to do if iron levels are a little bit low or at risk of becoming los, are to avoid cow’s milk and to give your baby an iron supplement. The AAP recommends a supplement of 11 milligrams (mg) per day until a baby starts eating iron-rich foods – but don’t start with that unless the doctor recommends it. Since your daughter is healthy and alert, she really is likely to be OK.

As for your daughter’s eating… That is one milestone she is obviously not reaching early, but if she is healthy it doesn’t matter. My youngest was a bit like your daughter; it took the longest time for him to accept anything but bananas. Well over one year old, he was still very picky, but improving.

What I do is I try to offer him a variety of different tastes and sometimes (usually not) he finds something that he likes. And then I also give him his favorite foods, so that I can be sure that he eats at least something.

Funny thing – he is not skinny, very normal, and he grows perfectly along his growth curves. I’ve visited a health nurse to measure him from time to time to stop my own worrying.

I really think you seem to be doing what you can. You are not trying to force your baby, rather offer her foods, which is very good. Remember that even if some babies are really early and just love solid foods, breast milk or formula is still meant to be the primary source of nutrition during the first year. Introducing solid foods can be a very slow process where the child slowly gets used to a new way of eating and all these new tastes and textures.

You can give her finger foods if she seems to enjoy that and offer her pieces of healthy foods also in between meals, to not make such a big deal of her eating.

Skip the spoon if you can. A lot of babies at this age really hate being fed but will gladly at least play with the food if they are allowed to use their hands. And in this age, they still use the mouth to investigate things, some of the food will reach her mouth and from time to time, she will like something. :-)

I know your daughter is only 10 months old, but I think some of these tips for making eating FUN for a toddler can be an inspiration for you too.

In between meals, give her breast milk or iron-fortified formula to fill her up and make sure she gets the nutrition she needs.

Some foods are of course more iron-rich than others, and if your daughter fancies any of the following, then give her that:

  • Iron-fortified baby cereal or oatmeal,
  • Lean meats, poultry, and fish – to be used in baby food recipes or found in canned baby food
  • Iron-fortified pasta, rice, and bread – can be something she likes stuffing herself with
  • Quinoa
  • Offer plenty of fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C, such as kiwi, peaches, avocado, and sweet red peppers and broccoli). Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.

You’ll find more iron-rich foods for kids here, including some recipes.

She’ll get there!

Paula

Read Next

Comments

Sep 29, 2014 picky baby
by: Anonymous
Hi, My baby was a lot like this as well. I recommend offering lots of different foods and different textures as well. My little girl still refuses if the cereal is too runny. Also, keep offering foods even if she refuses them the first 10 or 20 times. She may just need to get used to the flavors/texture.

Oct 04, 2014 My baby refuses to eat too
by: LUTFIA KAMAL
My baby boy is 9 months and he also still doesn’t eat. I started feeding him at the 1st day in his 7th month. He just accepted to eat during that day and then he doesn’t let me feed him any more !
After some weeks I tried to change the spoon then he accept his food but for some days and return to his habit. I’ll try to give hime another types of food as you say.

thanks


Nov 28, 2014 10 months and very fussy
by: tasmin
Hi all. My son is 10 months and is very fussy about foods. He first got his lower teeth then the two top ones also looked like a small vampire. I have tried everthing for him to eat. He will only eat 2 spoons for the most but give him a biltong stick he even cries when you take it from him. So far I think as long as he is breastfeeding its okay. He has gained weight although he teeths with his tummy. I’m just concerned and need to know what affect medication has on him if I have flu.

Nov 29, 2014 Check meds with a doctor

by: Paula (Easy Baby Life)


Hi Tasmin,
Great that you’re letting your little guy go slowly with the baby food if that’s what he wants. He will eat just like all of us eventually. :-) A word of caution; do check that the biltong sticks you give him are not high is sodium (salt), since that can harm a baby’s kidneys.

Regarding medicines affecting your son through your breast milk, do call a doctor or ask in the pharmacy about it. A lot of things do enter the breast milk, although usually is such small amounts that it isn’t a concern. But still worth checking!

Best, Paula


Nov 29, 2014 crawl/walking blues
by: Anonymous
Its me again tasmin. Why is that my baby wont use his walking ring? He sits okay in his chair, he wants me to keep him by the arms so that he can walk and this is very tiring. Is it ok to buy cobbler shoes for him to support his ankles or should I wait, he is only 10-months. He does crawl only on the bed.
Baby Help Line: I’d suggest you don’t interfere with his development. He is still so young, most babies certainly do not walk at his age. Wanting to be close to you is also very normal at his age. I know it can be very tiring when all they want is to be held one way or the other, but it does pass! Try to sit with his on the floor and play games (Find tips for games for 10-month-olds here.) and also let him be close to you as much as possible in other ways. For example, put him in his high chair and give him some finger foods to play with while you cook ordo the dishes. Good luck!

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Umai.T.

    hi, my baby is 10 months now and dosen’t want to eat solid foods, everytime i offer him solid foods he would refuse and sometimes i forced him but it gets worse that he nearly vomit out his food. please if you have tips on how to get my baby eat solid foods…
    thanks

    1. Paula @ EasyBabyLife

      Hi Umai,
      I know very well how frustrating it can be when a baby refuses to eat. However, at 10 months, there really is NO rush with the introduction of solids!

      Take a deep breath and stop worrying. Eating solids at this age is mainly about getting a chance to start testing, playing, tasting… Breast milk or formula is much more important for nutrition.

      Forcing him to eat will just make the introduction harder, as you’ve already noticed.

      Since the two of you are already in a power struggle about the solid foods, I suggest you completely stop trying for a few weeks. Then you can slowly try to start again, but I would probably be very careful not to add tension, force, or stress. Just put some finger foods within reach, or some fruit puree where he might just dip his fingers… Let him sit in his chair (if he wants to) while you eat. Let him touch your food if he wants to.

      Check out this reply to another mom: https://www.easybabylife.com/11-month-baby-does-not-eat-and-underweight.html

      Your son will eat when he is ready. Don’t worry. Just try to make mealtimes happy and relaxed.

      Here is another article that might help once your son has started to eat: https://www.easybabylife.com/power-struggles.html

      Good luck!