When your baby won’t eat solids, it can be stressful. Learn why your baby is refusing food and how to get them to eat solid foods with 7 simple steps!
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The spoon hits the floor.
Your baby makes a nasty face.
They might even shudder or gag.
All from a bite, or an attempt to feed your baby solid foods. It’s totally unexpected when babies respond with such disdain for baby food or table food. As parents, we’re often excited about this new milestone and it’s shocking when your baby won’t eat solids.
In real life though, it’s quite common for babies to gag on solids, seem uninterested, and outright refuse food.
While knowing it’s “normal” for babies to not seem interested in solid foods, even though everyone else’s baby seems to be gulping it down by the jar full, it still leaves the question, “How do you get a baby to eat solids?”
Well, I happen to know a thing or two about that. First, because I’ve personally helped a lot of families get their babies eating solids as a pediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience, but also because I’ve been there with my own son…
Going through it as a mom was a whole different ball game.
Of course, I knew that it was normal for babies to refuse baby food when it was first introduced, and I also knew that some babies didn’t much prefer baby food, but my Momma heart was worried. The worrying got worse when I watched my son act like he could’ve cared less about the delicious homemade sweet potatoes that I whipped up, as he turned his face away and threw the spoon across the room.
Meal after meal.
Day after day.
And, week after week.
With each passing day that he refused to eat solids, I got more worried, and more frustrated as I’d watch the food I’d prepared literally go down the drain. There came a point when I knew I needed to do more, to put some of my OT skills to use in my home, and that’s what I’m going to share with you here, because I know how stressful it is when your sweet adorable little baby won’t eat solids.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know :
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- Why your baby is refusing solids
- Why they used to eat solids, but don’t anymore
- How to get them to eat solids and table foods
- Ways to get them more help (if you need it)
We have specific guides as well for toddlers that refuse to eat and preschoolers and school aged kids that refuse to eat.
Why Your Baby Won’t Eat Solids
There are a lot of factors that can actually play a role in any baby’s refusal to eat solid food. We’re going to walk through each of them below, but know that the reason your baby isn’t eating solids could be any one or combination of them. With a little detective work, you’ll figure it out!
Also, age has a little do with it, and will help you hone in on what’s going on.
6 or 7 Month Olds That Refuse Solids:
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- Baby isn’t ready yet – 6 months of age is the perfect time to introduce baby to solid foods, but sometimes the baby isn’t ready. Actually, this is really common when the baby is closer to 4 and 5 months old if you’re starting a little earlier, but is still totally normal at 6 months of age.
Babies are still learning how to move their tongue and bring toys to their mouth, which helps them get used to having foreign objects in there. Each baby is unique and yours may just need some practice if they are in this age range.
They also may still be developing good trunk and head control, without it, eating is difficult!
Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for introducing food and make sure your baby is ready for solids. You can also find my guide to Introducing Solids with more details on milestones to look for when 6 months old.
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- A strong tongue thrust reflex – Most babies usually lose this reflex that helps them not choke if something accidentally gets into their mouth around 4-6 months, but it may linger for some.
If you notice that your baby still thrusts their tongue out every time you touch the spoon to their lips, they may need a little more time. It’s really hard for them to eat when they keep shoving their tongue out of their mouth!
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- Doesn’t like the way food feels – Solid food is something so new and unfamiliar to babies, it can take a while for them to get used to the new texture in their mouth. Many babies do in fact get used to the feeling of solids, but some don’t.
Read more about that below under sensory.
8, 9, or 10 Month Olds That Refuse Solids:
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- Sensory – By 8 months of age, most babies are ready from a developmental standpoint, and at this age, it’s definitely time to get the ball rolling, but some babies (like my son) still refuse. One of the most common reasons why older babies still won’t eat solids is because they don’t like the texture.
This boils down to the way their brains are thinking about (or processing) the sensory input they feel (aka the food in their mouth).
This isn’t a bad thing and doesn’t necessarily mean they have any kind of diagnosis, but it does mean we need to take some extra steps to help them tolerate the texture of food better. You can head to sensory issues with food to learn more.
Babies that are sensitive to different textures usually gag immediately at the sight, touch, or taste of food.
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- Coordination – Eating actually requires a lot of muscle coordination from opening the mouth, pulling food off of a spoon, closing the mouth, and effectively swallowing.
We take this for granted and don’t even think about it, but for some babies, it just isn’t coming natural.
Babies that are having difficulty with coordination, or oral motor skills (find exercises with that link,) usually gag when trying to swallow or after getting the food into their mouth.
Or, the food may fall out frequently, and babies won’t eat solids because they just don’t know how. When they don’t know how to eat, it isn’t that fun, and there isn’t a lot of interest.
If gagging is something you’re concerned about or is happening often, read more in guide on baby gagging.
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- Food allergies – Believe it or not, sometimes babies will avoid certain types of foods because they’ve associated an upset tummy with the yogurt or cheese for example. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s something to consider, especially when it’s very specific allergenic food.
The most common types of food allergens are dairy, egg, soy, wheat, tree nut, peanut, fish, and shellfish. Severe eczema is another indicator that food allergies might be present.
Sometimes, signs become more obvious when cow’s milk is introduced.
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- Not into baby food – While this is probably the least likely reason your baby is refusing solids, it is possible.
If you’ve consistently offered baby food or infant cereal with no interest from your baby and you don’t see any of the sensory or coordination signs we talked about above, then you might just might want to move on to table and finger foods.
One way to do that is using a Baby Led Weaning approach, before you do that though read my BLW pros and cons.
Why Baby Won’t Eat Solids Anymore (They Used to?)
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- Some teething babies won’t eat – While it’s not as common, some babies start off eating baby food and then suddenly stop. A frequent cause of this is teething, and some babies teethe for a very. long. time. If your baby’s teeth are swollen, red, and seem to hurt, then this is likely the cause.
Try putting some teething gel on their gums 15-20 minutes before a meal. If you see an improvement, this is likely the culprit. Here’s a natural teething gel I like, but check with your doctor first.
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- Going through a phase – Babies may get a little bug or slight cold that we aren’t even aware of or have some negative experience with food that seemed too minor to us as the parent, but makes them leery of eating.
If it’s the latter, some sensory sensitivities can develop if a baby goes for a while without eating any food. If this is the case for your baby, you’ll want to follow the steps below and focus on not pressuring your baby to eat. It’s really important that mealtimes are a positive experience.
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- They’ve outgrown baby food – If your baby is later in their 7th month or older, they may just be sick of solid baby food and ready for the real deal table and finger foods. That may mean it’s time to change up baby’s diet!
I know that seems scary and makes some parents nervous. Don’t worry though, if you think this is why your baby suddenly won’t eat solids anymore, then head to how to transition to table foods.
How to Get Your Baby to Eat Solids
1. The absolute first thing I do with a baby not eating solids is to put a scoop of baby food or some other pureed food like yogurt onto the tray of their high chair.
I know, the mess. It’s soooo important for babies to get messy though! If you’re skeptical, you’ve got to read: Why Babies Should Get Messy Eating. It will totally change your perspective and give you the inspiration to embrace the mess.
2. Encourage your baby to touch the food, but don’t force. Be silly and keep it light. Demonstrate.
If they refuse, try and try again. In fact, at every single meal, put a dollop of that food on their tray or even in a bowl that they can play with and touch. If they won’t touch after a few attempts, offer a spoon for them to stick into the food too.
This is one of my favorite beginner spoons that makes it really easy for baby to get some food onto it.
3. Once your child touches the solid food, you’re on your way! Allow them to touch, spread, and put it all over the tray and themselves. This is wonderful for their sensory processing and will make a huge difference in helping them get used to the texture of solids.
If they get upset once they’ve touched the food, or that they are now all messy, be very calm and reassuring.
Have a wet washcloth ready and quickly wipe them down. And, if this is how they respond, it’s a sign that you need to practice playing with these foods a lot! The more they touch and interact with the food, the closer they’ll be to eating it.
4. When baby has the food on their hand and they’re at least tolerating it, show them how to take their hand to their mouth, so they can taste it. You may need to demonstrate if baby won’t let you guide their hand.
Repeat this several times. After they eat from their hands several times, offer them some solid foods from a spoon.
5. You can also give them a large whole raw carrot or celery stalk at meals. I mean the whole darn thing. The point isn’t for them eat it (and if they can get pieces of it off, take it away), but for them to put it into their mouth.
When they do this, it helps desensitize their gag reflex and they get to practice biting, chewing, and moving their tongue around. It’s amazingly powerful and can make a big impact in a baby accepting solid foods. Make sure you demonstrate and keep offering at every meal.
6. Be consistent and patient. I can’t stress this enough, even though it’s often easier said than done! Have regular meals and follow the above steps 1-3 times a day for every meal. You can find sample schedules for babies ages 6 – 7 months, 8 – 10 months, and 11 -14 months if you’d like a guideline to follow.
7. Focus on meals being positive experiences for the baby, even if they aren’t eating anything. As parents, we can bring a lot of stress with us to meals, which can be hard to hide. But, this is definitely a “fake it til you make it” kind of situation.
Take a deep breath, put on a happy face, and work on the above steps. Going into the meal with no expectations of them eating anything will also help keep your frustration level down.
I highly recommend grabbing a seat in my free online workshop to help learn more…
In it, you’ll learn 5 Easy changes parents can make to help babies and toddlers eat table food well! It’s an eye opener and will help you take steps to give them the best start with eating table foods well (even if it already isn’t going well):
Strategies to Use Outside of Meals for Baby’s Refusing Solids
There are a few really powerful strategies you can use away from the highchair that will directly impact your baby eating solids during meals. Might seem strange, but if you suspect your baby is refusing because of sensory or coordination difficulties, doing these activities can be total game changers:
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- Brush their teeth – If you haven’t started yet, brush their teeth, and when you do, make sure you’re getting all over their gums and the sides, as well as the top of their tongue.
It only takes a few seconds, but it helps to both desensitize their mouth and improve coordination because the tongue gets practice moving in different directions. If your baby doesn’t like it, take it slow, and try often.
The more often you brush, the bigger the effect. Try for one to three times a day, and consider a vibrating toothbrush (yes, even for babies) for more powerful input in their mouth.
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- Play in sensory bins – That may be a new term to you or you might be wondering what the heck that has to do with eating, but playing in different textures is super powerful and helps the sensory system understand different textures better.
This correlates directly to eating. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a kiddo that plays in sensory bins frequently, suddenly start eating more foods (my son included). Head to Sensory Bin Ideas to learn how to set one up.
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- Chew on toys – So many babies that won’t eat solids never put toys or teethers in their mouth, which is really easy to overlook. If this is your baby, pull out a bunch of different teethers and have them around the house.
Demonstrate. Dip them in food or juice. Play with them in the bath. The more often they get teethers and toys into their mouths, the more it will help improve the coordination their mouth muscles need to eat and desensitize their gag reflex and sensory system.
I really love this teether because it gets in the back of the mouth and this one vibrates (all my friends get it from me at their baby shower).
Help for the Baby Not Eating Food
I’m not just talking about solid baby food or purees. You may have a baby that won’t eat any type of food, like puffs, cut up fruit, or toast. They’re getting older and older. You’re getting worried.
Following the above steps will be incredibly important for your babies too, especially the strategies for outside of a meal. But, you’ll also want to use the steps I outline in getting your baby to eat table foods.
That’s a whole different animal all within itself, and there are some targeting tips that can make all the difference in your baby eating food.
You’ll want to focus on small pieces, and by 9 months of life be attempting table or finger foods.
While I don’t want you to worry, I know it’s tempting to keep waiting it out, and unfortunately, some doctors advise this quite often. This often does not help your baby to learn to eat wide variety of foods.
Babies instinctively learn to chew between roughly 8 and 11 months of age, when they move past that, it can be much harder for them to accept foods. It’s not impossible, and the same steps apply for older children, but it’s much better to be proactive then taking a “wait and see” approach.
Puffs, lil cheese curls, and baby mum mum’s are all great for baby’s first foods.
When to Get More Help for a Baby Not Eating Solids
If your baby doesn’t like solid baby food and won’t accept any table foods of finger foods by 9 months old, it’s a good idea to get an evaluation either from the free early intervention program in your state or from a feeding therapist.
You can also read more about typical feeding milestones for babies just to have a reference point. As I said earlier, all babies develop at a different pace and needing a little more help is very common.
Get My Free Printable: Learn to Eat Table Foods Cheat Sheet
There seem to be more questions than answers when you’re under the daily stress of your baby or toddler not eating table foods. Not to mention all of the well-intentioned bad advice that’s often given. Let’s clear that up.
I’ve created a free 4 page guide that clearly lists the steps to teach your baby or toddler to eat table or finger foods, plus a FAQ guide for parents to ease their worries when their babies won’t eat!
More on My Baby Won’t Eat Solids
How to Teach Your Baby to Self-Feed
How to Teach Your Baby to Drink from a Straw
The Best Mealtime Utensils and Tools for Babies
Click here to Pin This! (You’ll have as a quick reference)
Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 19 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.
I really needs help for my 2.5 yrs old son who don’t want to chew or taking any solid foods. Have tried a lot from varying all foods, almost everthing but He won’t eat solid foods. He just eat lentil soup and running porrides everthing in liquid form. No meats or ‘hard particles’ inside that may triggered him to vomiting. His growth is ok but feeding him is like torture as he eatings very slowly and no solids at all. And as he is not eating much fibre in his diet he is mostly constipated.Please help me i am very fedup now.
Thanks in advance
Hey!
Thanks for reaching out, we understand how hard this can be! I’d first start to do some food play getting him to touch foods, outside of mealtimes. This can be helpful in moving forward. We do also have a free workshop that helps with transitioning to table foods, full of helpful strategies. You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
Hi. My baby of 2 doesn’t eat solid but always gags, shove it n choke wen introduced and am really worried
Thanks for reaching out! I’d check out this article on chewing to start working on the skills she needs for biting/chewing and managing foods in her mouth.
Best,
Desiree
I’m having the same issue with my 16 month old son. He will eat puréed food (very picky on the flavor) —I give him soup, noodles, waffles, fruits —gags or throws a fit ! I hear ya and I’m definitely with ya ! This shall pass I hope !
Hey Bethany,
We get how hard this can be!! I’d try engaging him in play/touching of the table foods to see if you can peek his interest (you can do this outside of mealtimes), but is really the first step in eating. Also, if you haven’t seen our free workshop for transitioning to table food, it is full of great strategies to help! You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
Hello I have 9 month old twin boys & both of them are doing the same. Neither of them want anything to do with babyfood or any kinda of snacks such as curls & teething snacks ect. Their formula is the only thing they will eat. I’ve already asked their pediatrician about it he told me to wait a couple weeks and then come back and told me to try different things at home but I had no idea what to try until now reading your post I have six kids all together & there wasn’t any hesitation for them eating whatsoever but I introduce food at around four months with all four of them but with my twins I waited a little longer because they were a little smaller. I wish i would have just started them at the earlier age but Thanks so much for ur advice I’m going to begin ur steps immediately..
You are so welcome Casey, So glad this was helpful for you! We do also have a free workshop that walks you through more and how to address any difficulties you are seeing! You can feel free to save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi
My son is turning 4 yrs old next month and he has started refusing any food except milk…..he used to eat everything earlier but now he prefers only milk I give him in glass ….whatever food I offer it’s so hard to make him eat now and I’m so upset…why did he stop eating food and only drinking milk? I started reducing milk so that he feels hungry n eats solid food but be throws tantrums n cries for milk only when hungry…what do I do? Pls help..he doesnt like to touch any food or play with it…he doesnt like getting his hands messed…he never put any toy in his mouth until now …when I first introduced solids he accepted and was eating quite well until 2 yrs old but from past one year I’m failing in feeding him regular food but only milk…how to get rid of this milk consumption n make him interested to eat normal food..pls help
Hi,
Thanks for reaching out! We can understand how hard and frustrating this is! I’d first work on having him complete some play with food, outside of mealtime. Just trying to get him to engage in the foods and touch can be a huge step forwards. But, we do have a free workshop with some great strategies for you that I think would help. You can save your seat Here
Best,
Desiree
Hi my baby is going to became 4 years in this dec 2020. But till nw he is eating every food as puree . I m trying to give every food as solid but he is nt even touching also what i should do ?please reply
Hey Thanks for reaching out to us! We know how hard feeding difficulties can be. I’d try to have him help with you in the kitchen to make food, touching/handling, etc to start to peek the interest of what the foods are. If there are some foods that he is able to eat solid, we do have a free workshop that will help you with some tips to set up a positive mealtime. You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
Your advice is not helping at all! My GOD! this is so stressful I am in tears my grandson is having the same issues. Does this ever resolve?
Hi Viv,
We are so sorry thing are so stressful for you and your grandson! Sometimes improvements can happen a little at a time. Be sure to check out our free workshop mentioned above! If you are still having a hard time you might talk to your grandson’s doctor about feeding therapy. We have a post HERE about what to expect from feeding therapy.
Best,
Andrea
Help my going to be 2 year old at end of this month still won’t eat snacks or any finger foods he used to eat yogurts mashed potatoes purade veggies and fruit cups and then one day didn’t want anything anymore I’ve tried everything he even stopped drinking juice he still takes his early morning 8oz bottle of 3% milk and toddler formula powder but that’s it and he is very upset trying to poop and I’m at my wits end it’s been 3 weeks of this but he has never wanted anything with peace’s my 3 year old daughter eats everything she can all day long never gaining weight but loves food so I’m just out of my mind with my son as he will put everything but food to his mouth
Hey Kendra,
So sorry you are dealing with this, we understand how hard it can be on everyone. I’d look into the constipation issues in this article to see if anything can help, as it can have a tremendous impact on eating. Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, I’d check out our free workshop. It will help with setting up a positive environment as well as walking you through how to set up mealtimes. You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
My daughter is almost 10 months old and won’t eat solids at all. We started introducing solids at 6 months and it was a battle. She struggled with major constipation. In addition, she’s definitely one of those babies that never put toys in her mouth. My question is this: Have you ever seen a baby that can flip flop their tongue back and forth from side to side in a twisting motion? Meaning, she can basically flip her tongue over completely, side to side! We struggled with breast feeding initially and I’m wondering if this tongue thing is now impacting her ability/desire to eat solids. She doesn’t have a tongue tie. She did gag on solids a bit at first, but we got past that. Now, she just has zero interest…
Hey Victoria,
Thanks for reaching out to us! We have seen this before, and working on getting her tongue in proper positioning can be helpful. I’d first work on utilizing a bbay tooth brush, brushing her gums, teeth and tongue. Having that in the mouth naturally tends to automatically get the tongue to move properly into position for feeding. Also, we do have a free workshop that also walks you through some other oral motor strategies and things to help them move towards eating that can be helpful. You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
Hi my 2yr old won’t eat anything but Heinz 1 yr old food I tried different foods but he just has a tantrum and when he sees me eat he runs out of the room I’m so frustrated I don’t know what to do please help thank you
So sorry you are having trouble with this transition. We know how hard it can be! I’d work on trying to have him play with some of the foods for a positive experience with the foods, you can do this outside of mealtimes. We do also have a workshop that would be helpful for you! You can save your seat here
Best,
Desiree
hi ,
my boy is 8 months old and he is always refusing the food and not eating well as per my observation. this is my first baby and i dont know it is ok or no? mother milk he is taking well but only baby food he is refusing always.
Thanks for reaching out! I’d continue to keep offering the baby food, but also making sure that he has opportunity to play in it and touch the food, this can be really helpful in eating it! We do also have a free workshop, that addresses this and provides some strategies. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi, My baby is now 12 months, he keeps the food in his mouth and not swallow it, after some times he just split it. it takes hours for me to feed the baby…please help
Hey Suma,
So sorry you are dealing with this. It can be so hard when your little one is not eating well. You can find some tips for getting your little one to chew HERE. If they are not yet eating any solid foods (swallowing) you can also check out our free workshop full of strategies on how to help them make this transition. Save your spot HERE
Best,
Desiree
My baby is 7.5 months old, started solid foods at 5 months and was super successful.
When she turned 6 months, i saw all of a sudden a totally different baby, moving arms and legs sharply, in an uncoordinated manner and locking her mouth. Just like that. I have always let her play with the purée, but she has never ever tried to lick her fingers while she puts anything else in her mouth.
She has never been keen on breastfeeding or formula (I give her milk with a syringe; she doesn’t take the breast or the bottle anymore).
I tried with finger foods many times – she plays with it, chews and spits out pieces.
My pediatrician tells me to keep trying but i have kept trying for 2.5 months and i am on the verge of going mentally deranged myself.
I would not have worried that much at this age if she took milk. But trying to give her a couple of ounces is a huge battle.
What to do?
Hey Doroty,
So sorry you are having trouble feeding your little one! But I will say, great job at letting her play with the puree. I would keep that up for every “mealtime” as touching is the first step in eating. I would also work on brushing her teeth/gums throughout the day. this can help stimulate some tongue movement that is great for learning to chew. We do have a free workshop that I think you will find some great information for you little one! You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi, my baby is 6.5 months old..she is refusing purees and when I tried blw
. She is touching food and throwing, but not putting in mouth. Plz help
Hey Thanks for reaching out! I’m not sure how long you have been trying with the purees, but I’d make sure to check out in the article the milestones that show she is ready for the foods! I’d provide her opportunity to touch and play with the puree and be modeling eating off of a spoon and you can provide her with her own spoon too. We do have a free workshop that will walk you through some other steps if you are still concerned you can save your spot HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi, My baby is now 9months, he keeps the food in his mouth and not swallow it, after some times he just split it. it takes hours for me to feed the baby…please help
Hey Kinley,
We know how hard this can be and are here for you! I’d first try modeling (over exaggerating) of moving food around in your mouth while you are eating, as this can be helpful for kids to see. Also we do have a free workshop that helps to walk you through on strategies to help with getting them to eat table foods. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My daughter wont drink breast or bottle what I do is immediately after she sleeps I giver her breast that time she sucks.. sometimes suddenly she woke up and cry but I make her sleep and give milk again
Sorry you are having a hard time with your little one. If she’s not drinking any liquid during the day, I’d reach out to your pediatrician. they may be able to get you a referral to have her evaluated so that they can see what is going on and items that you can do to help her!!
Best,
Desiree
My 17months old baby used to eat table foods like a lot he would eat almost every second to third hour a baby full plate but now his refusing to eat at all he got 8front teeth already he just want his bottle the whole day please help
Hey Donna,
So sorry you are going through this. I’d first start with attempting a no pressure environment. It can be hard for us, because we want our kids to eat, however can really be helpful for them. You can learn all about no pressure an other tips in our free picky eating workshop. Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My child is 3 years he is not taking solid food I am really worried about him
Hey!
Thanks for reaching out! I’m not sure exactly what your child is doing at mealtimes, but I’d try to do some food play with him, getting him to touch and interact with food (outside of mealtime) to peak his interest in the foods you are working on can be helpful. We do have a free workshop that is full of great strategies and tips as well! You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Please please please plzzzzzzzzz…….. Help me..
My 2.7 years old toddler doesnt eat solod…everything he eats is pureed form… He doesnt know to chew n swallow .
I am very stressed.
He just vomits if i give him solid
Hey Neha,
Sorry you are having trouble with your little one. We do have an article that walks you through with some strategies for How To Teach Your Baby Or Toddler To Chew which will be helpful. We do also recommend starting with meltable foods to work on this skill such as puffs, graham crackers, townhouse crackers. All foods that dissolve in your mouth.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Desiree
May little on is 6 and 1/2 months old. i was trying to start solid when she was 5 and 1/2 months but i was not able to feed her even a single spoon. i keep offering everyday. she lock her mouth so tight but start play with food. its seems she is not at all interested for purees or cereals. Dont know what to do to make her interested for solid.
Hey Troy,
We understand how hard this transition can be! I’d try to do some play with the food to let you daughter touch and play with the food, this may help to ease her into feeding and she may put her fingers in her mouth after touching it as well. Also, I’d provide her with her own spoon so that she can get comfortable with what it is!
Best,
Desiree
My baby is 10 months, and since 1 month its been a hell…he is just not interested in eating. He just throws food, puts his inside soup and yogurt bowls and becomes a mess, pulls my spoons away, screams, pushes food, drops plates and spoons. Mealtimes are like wartimes.im trying family meal, purees, fruits which he squishes…im at my wits end now
Trying to feed him food only once in 3 hrs but nothing is helping
Hey Vini,
Thanks for reaching out to us! I’d work on trying to see if he is interested in some meltables ie:puffs as this can be something different and he can touch and pick up! It can help the frustrations. We do have a free workshop as well that can walk you through some steps to transitioning to food and help with overall mealtime battles. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Finally some answers!! Thank you for the info! My 9 month old likes sweet fruit purée but not anything else! She’s also interested in our food on our plates! She obviously can not eat this food yet but at least that’s a good sign. I just registered for the workshop! She has dropped a pound and I am worried!
We totally understand, so glad you found us and the workshop! Let us know if you have any questions after!
Best,
Desiree
My son is 19 months and he doesn’t eat any solids just milk water and juices
Hey Saika,
We understand where you are coming from. We do have a free workshop that would help get you started for transitioning to some solid foods. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My son is 11 months old he refuse to eat solid food
He want to just depend on breastfeeding
Is a battle for me whenever i want to feed he always cry alot without stopping
Am kind of worried what will i do
Hello,
Thanks for reaching out to us! We understand how hard this can be! I’d recommend starting with our free workshop, you will learn where to start for the solid foods, how to introduce them as well as things to help along the way! The tips in this article are great too! Save your seat for the workshop HERE
Best,
Desiree
Am passing through the same thing, my baby is 15 month old and he prefers breast milk over any other food, he takes cornflakes sometimes and will refuse outrightly many times, he takes pap and refuses sometimes too, today he can choose to take general food but refuses them after the first bite, the only food he prefer taking is breast milk,if I offer him food when he’s hungry, he will refuse and will starts crying pointing and opening my cloth for breast milk, he looks healthy but pls am so worried, what should I do?
I’m passing through the same thing, my baby is 15 month old and he prefers breast milk over any other food, he takes cornflakes sometimes and will refuse outrightly many times, he takes pap and refuses sometimes too, today he can choose to take general food but refuses them after the first bite, the only food he prefer taking is breast milk,if I offer him food when he’s hungry, he will refuse and will starts crying pointing and opening my cloth for breast milk, he looks healthy but pls am so worried, what should I do?
Hey Thanks for reaching out to us! We understand how hard this transition to table foods can be so difficult. I’d take some time and opportunities to allow him to touch and play with some different textures of foods (no pressure to eat) so that he can become more comfortable with them and peek his interest. We do also have a free workshop that will help walk you through the steps of transitioning onto table foods. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Hi my almost 10 m old baby, try to eat but spit out with tongue every time. She is doing this since 25 days. Please give me a suggestion what should I do for her.
Hi Kanwal,
Chewing can be really challenging for little ones to learn sometimes. It can be helpful to use dissolvable solids (like graham crackers or gerber puffs) and place them on the side gums/teeth. You can check out more helpful suggestions for teaching chewing HERE. Reach out if you have any questions!
Best,
Andrea
Hi my baby completed 1 year 4 days back till 11 months she was eating dry chapati n other snacks like biscuits, pancake, crushed chips etc but 1.5 month before she caught with influenza n was hospitalised also that time she was not in condition to eat dry or dolid as her throat was full with conjunction and it toom almost 15 days to completely recover from it by the time she was on soft diet like porridge, khichadi, Cerelac but now after recovery she stop eating any dry food eitjer she is not ready to open the mouth else if she takes she just throw it out no interest to chew vd gums n sollow like before she used to do. Other way all waste items she put in her mouth like tissue paper, cloths, toys, tbermocol etc. What to do.? How yo make her habbit to again start dry solid food?
Great Question! Illness can really have an effect on our kids eating habits. I’d start back slow as she has to learn to trust the food again. I’d start doing some play with the dry foods (outside of mealtimes) and get her used to touching it first. I’d also do some modeling at meals so that she is seeing you eating the foods and slowly see if she becomes interested again.
Best,
Desiree
Hi my baby is 17Months old his taking only mashed food,whenever I offer him solid like rice, chapatis,carrot his just refusing to chew or he just vomit pls advice me what to do am so worried
Thanks for your question! I can understand where you are coming from in being worried. If you haven’t yet taken our free workshop, that would be a great resource for you. It will walk you through which foods to offer next to help your child in their learning of chewing of foods. You can save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
My baby is 1 year and 4 months , it’s been a few days that she suddenly keeps her mouth shut if we feed her any solids food ( tried purees and a variety of other solids ), unsure of the reason , she just takes milks, bites all the other other items possible on the home ( part of teething) , uses her hands wisely to push, we don’t know how only to make her eat back agian, suggestions pls
Hello, I’ve been doing babyled weaning with my daughter since she we started solids at 6 months and she has always been very very picky about foods. She refused any purées or soft foods and would never let me spoon feed her. I’ve let her play and exposed her to so many foods, I always eat with her and play and make it fun. She is now 11 months and seems to be even pickier, she will only eat yogurt strawberries Cheerios and crunchy snack type foods, sometimes toast. I’ve seen her eat other things occasionally and it surprises me but for the most part, feeding her has felt like a huge failure and she doesn’t seem to care about it. Her eating mechanics are actually great surprisingly and gagging isn’t much of an issue, but sensory seems to be that. We’ve done tons of sensory play but no progress. She is EBF and was a bottle refuser as well. I’m actually a pediatric OT and have experience with this but this is really a struggle. She’s generally a survive bab
a *stubborn baby but I don’t know what else to do aside from feeding therapy, which I do imagine is a lot of what I’m already doing.
Hey Genevieve,
I get how hard this can be, and especially when it’s your own having to separate being a mom and a therapist! Have you taken any of our free workshops? Generally at this age we recommend our Table Food Workshop. It will walk you through some feeding ideas, so you can see if you are missing a piece of the puzzle!
Best,
Desiree
Please I need help.
My Exclusively breastfed Daughter is currently 29.5 weeks. She weights 15.8Ib and measures 27 inch. She had very bad reflux during her earlier months which was managed by meds. Until we discovered the reflux was triggered by things I was eating that she was allergic to. She use to feed directly from me but more from the bottle eating btw 3-4 ounce very 3 hours. All of a sudden she stopped eating from the bottle 2 months ago. She will only nurse from me directly maybe every 4 hours for 2-4 minutes. I have tried to give her Brest milk in a bottle she refuses. I have tried to give her ALL Formulas designed for milk allergy babies she refuses. I have tried to give her many types regular formula she refuses. For the last 3 weeks I have tried introducing solids she refuses all ( oatmeal cereal, rice cereal, sweet potato, butternut squash, peas, peaches, corn, carrots). I have tried baby led weaning letting her play with the food but she never put food in her mouth. She puts everything else in her mouth but not food. She REFUSES to eat everything I offer. The worst part is that she doesn’t even nurse for long maximum 5 minutes and this is rare. At night she wakes me up every 2 hours to nurse. I am exhausted. Please I need help. Her pediatrician says keep trying. Her GI specialist says keep trying. My baby looks so small and dropping weight. What else can I do? I need her to eat.
Hey Helen,
First of all, I know this is hard on you, so kudos for you for looking for more answers! As far as the breastmilk/formula I’d really recommend getting and occupational therapy evaluation to help you maneuver throughout this. They can take a look to see what may be happening. You can learn about the types of therapy here. Secondly as far as the feeding goes, I’d try to have her playing in purees so that she will engage and touch it first as this is the first step in eating of the foods. You can learn more about purees and what foods to try after in our free workshop. Save your seat HERE
Best,
Desiree
Thanks for your response
Hi i am actually going through the same exact situation right now and my baby is also 29.5 weeks and weight 16 lbs. He s doctor told me that he a little below average with his weight. I don’t know what to do .exact same thing going on. I have tried every puree in single or mixed. He don’t want a bottle at all and he only breasfeed for no more than 5 minutes at a time and its every 3-4 hrs and he’s not getting enough sleep cause he keeps waking up to get just a little sip. I am really feeling like i missing something i don’t know what it is.
Hey Sergica,
I know it’s so hard! I’d recommend you try the same things as well. Walking through the steps/suggestions in the article can be helpful. Allowing your son to play in pureed foods so that he gets used to them and see if he puts his hands in his mouth. You can also reach out for a feeding evaluation so that they can check to see what is going on and provide some suggestions for you! You can read all about feed therapy Here
Best,
Desiree
Hi I am a first time mother, my baby is 10 months old he started eating baby food some when he was 5 months old when he turned 8 months he started only wanting his bottle with his formula an then he started eating just fruits, he hates veggies I’ve tried over 20 different things ways N he hates it just likes fruits only, well a few weeks ago he had a double ear infection an stopped eating baby food and hasn’t wanted anything since even though I offer all the time, he also won’t eat puffs or any kind of finger foods he can hold them an has used teething rings for a long time, so he knows how to put stuff to his mouth I’m worried he won’t be eating by the time he’s a year old what do I do please help,
HI. I HAE A SIMILAR SITUATION WITH MY 10 MONTHS OLD. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO
Hey Oko,
We have a free workshop that will provide you with some tips as well as walk you through how to handle this. You can Save your Seat Here.
Best,
Desiree