Seven month old struggling with solids

I started introducing solids to my baby when she turned six months.

bizby40...

You know, even as an adult, I don't like to find chunks in my ice
cream. I don't like mint chocolate chip, or chocolate chunk, or
anything lumpy in there.

Rosalie B....

My kids didn't like, and after the first one, I never attempted to
give them junior foods. As soon as they could make a pincer movement,
I let them pick up stuff to try to eat it, and basically went right
from baby (pureed) food to table food. By the time they were 8
months, they were eating real food. They were still breast feeding,
but they were also drinking liquids from a small glass or cup (we
didn't have sippy cups then).

But I LOVE mint chocolate chip and chocolate chunk (like moose
tracts)

Initially she seemed thrilled to try something new and would happily
hum away as she was being spoon-fed. Now, at seven months, it seems
every meal when we serve solids is a struggle. The purees that she
used to like are now a pain to get through, and it seems she'll now
only eat her solids when distracted. Otherwise she'll cry and
eventually we give up and give her the bottle, which she happily takes.
We've now reached the point where she starts to cry even as we attach
the plastic bib we use for solids (has a bottom that catches dribble).

My husband is tempted to let her go back to only having formula for a
little while (I could never breastfeed so formula is all she knows) ,
to work up her interest for solids again.

What's your take: should we keep up the game of distraction or take a
break from solids?

npardue...

Since she's getting upset at the very idea of it, I'd stop for a week
or so, to give her a chance to forget. Then try again, maybe with
table foods. Some babies hate to be spoon-fed purees as soon as they
get the ability to eat the real thing.

hschinske...

I agree -- and don't worry if she's still not keen on the whole
business. Lots of babies are very "eh" about solids until more like
nine months or even past a year in some cases. I would keep an eye on
her in case it's due to something like her mouth hurting (teething,
Coxsackie infection, etc.), and see if she seems to be particularly
bothered by certain foods (which might indicate an allergy, or trouble
digesting them). She'll be okay for iron, since formula is
supplemented.

Nikki...

I agree with all the others and one other idea. If she wants the bottle
give it to her first (maybe with a slightly smaller amount). My first was
so determined that he wanted milk that he would not eat solids until he got
the milk first. He was just to distracted by trying to get milk that he
wouldn't have a thing to do with anything else.

Also - my kids would go off solids when they were teething heavily.

Also - don't worry about it. She doesn't really *need* solids so don't
stress if she doesn't want any for awhile.

karlisa...

My youngest was like that--initially interested in eating solids

Welches...

You'd be surprised.
#2 took finger foods first before purees. She never could take any
"chunkiness" in the purees but had no problems with finger foods. Oh-she
didn't have teeth either.
Try her with a piece of toast. She'll learn to get it in there.
Debbie

(cereals and breastmilk) but very quickly grew disinterested. He would
become angry when we would try to feed him and we had to sneak in the
food when he was distracted. Finally, we realized that what he really
wanted to do was feed himself. We gave him a spoon and a bowl of
oatmeal and fruit puree and let him make a total and complete mess. He
was happy with that (although *I* hated the mess) and he has refused to
be spoon fed since. It didn't take him long to master spoon feeding
himself. We always supplemented with nursing afterwards. He's always
been an extremely independent kid so this shouldn't have come as a
surprise, I suppose.

I say give your daughter a spoon and some applesauce or other finely
pureed food and let her feed herself. She probably won't get much in
at first, but she may really take to it. Good luck!

Ericka Kammerer...

Have you tried her on finger foods? She may not
want you feeding her anymore.

Best wishes,
Ericka

Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward...

I thought I'd get back to you on the finger foods: she doesn't seem to
be doing too well at that yet, she can't seem to be able to grab them
off her feeding tray as her fingers can't quite pinch them yet, and if
she does manage (with our help) it doesn't seem to occur to her to try
putting them in her mouth.

Ericka Kammerer...

She'll get there eventually ;-) I thought it
was hysterical when DS2 decided he wanted to eat Cheerios.
His pincer grip wasn't quite working, and I think he sat
in the Exersaucer for an outrageous amount of time,
concentrating just as hard as he could until he could
successfully get a Cheerio into his mouth. He was so
darned proud of himself ;-)

Best wishes,
Ericka