Daughter Will Not Eat Baby Food

Hi J.,
I would try cereal and mix it with whatever you fed her as an infant (formula or breastmilk). Make if fairly liquid to begin with as she's learning to adjust to the new texture as well as taste. If you're already past that, try mixing with bananas or something like that. Both of my children are pretty good eaters, however neither liked mashed potatoes as babies. It's a texture thing!
One thing I'd like to recommend to help with less pickyness in the future is to introduce new foods as often as possible. When mine were younger, the recommendation was not less than every 3 days so that if there is a food allergy, you would be able to identify it easily. I'd also try to feed them more veggies than anything else. Kids normally prefer fruit to any other food, so it's an easy thing for them to "acquire the taste". Meat was difficult for me to get my children to eat, so I usually fed them half/half bites of meat with a veggie. And sometimes I just had to "trick" them. I'd sneak in the less preferred food between bites of what they liked. I was determined to have my children have better eating habits than I learned, so was kind of a stickler. NO candy before they were...well my in-laws (who not one has healthy eating habits)decided while they were babysitting, that my son was just missing out on life if he didn't have chocolate...so he was two. Such is life...;o)
Anyway, keep in mind that what you establish now is what she'll follow, so stick to your guns ~ she'll eat something she doesn't like before she goes hungry. I know that sounds horrible, but *shrug* it's kinda true, and in the end they're normally better off for it.
Good luck!
S.
P.S. Yikes!!! Sorry for rambling a bit.

That is tough. We battle it with our 12 month old on a daily basis and it started as soon as baby food was offered at 6 months. Initially we made food time food time and allowed no distractions, thinking this was best. For my daughter we found that the opposite works. For example, if she doesn't want to take a bite, we give her her own spoon to play with or a rubber toy, etc. Also, at times we have to sing to her with every bite, and sometimes dad does a puppet show while mom feeds. As soon as she is distracted, the mouth opens. Also try lots of variety, and don't just offer baby food, she might just not like it. We started with macaroni and small pasta pieces and small soft veggie pieces, oatmeal, pieces of toast with butter, small pieces of turkey, ham, etc. After doctor said ok to whole milk we added in yogurt, pudding, etc. She still doesn't like to eat protein and veggies much, but I can often sneak about 1 bite per minute while she is playing or doing something else. Also, feed when baby is hungry-if baby is full of milk, she won't eat food. However, your baby is young. Take it slow and don't get discouraged. For some babies eating is fun and for some it's work!

My son is 3 now. Still a picky eater. But he refused homemade baby food. He was a total Gerber and Earth's Best baby. Mashed potatoes is too bland. Give her carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peas. Try the tiniest jars first to see if she likes it or not. Some babies have a more preferred taste bud. Mine liked Gerber bananas, applesauce, sweet potatoes, sweet peas. Carrots and green beans gave diaper rash.

If your baby can't gum food, don't bother giving them soft veggies. Mine couldn't gum anythng hence has sensory issues now. He refuses to eat mashed potatoes unless it was super garlic and herbs. And he wouldn't eat rice unless it was saucy.

Go to library and borrow some books on kid meals. I have First Meals by Anna Karmel. I wish I had that earlier but it will help for sure next time around.

Good luck!

Have you tried half formula and half baby cereal? My eight month old has really been enjoying that. (Not wanting to let go of the bottle...)He's been eating baby food since he was 4 months though. Oatmeal seems to really agree with him. He also doesn't really like peas, but my parents thought it would be cute if They mixed his peas with a very small amount of ice cream. We couldn't get it in him fast enough.

Well I had this promblem with my daughter. She is now 2 but refused baby food! My son ate baby food fine so I didn't understand her. I actaully breast fed her for 12mos not really knowing what to do. I offered her baby food but we wasted more than we ate. At 12 months I gave her reg food and she ate it! Now your baby is younger but maybe try reg soft food. I would consult the doc also but there are lots of reg food she may like. If she can chew try some stuff thats not terribly hard and see how she likes that.

My daughter also refused to eat baby food at a young age. I think she was around five or six months and her formula just wasn't doing it for her. I actually started giving her toast and soft veggies (like green beans) and just watched her closely to make sure she didn't choke. She seemed to respond better that way:)