My son started solids in very small amounts around 5 months. He's now 6.5 months and regularly has two full meals a day (in addition to breastfeeding of course). In the past week or two, he's started doing something that really concerns me. He's started making these loud grunty noises and scrunching up his face and straining, almost like he's constipated. This starts maybe a third of the way into the feeding and he seems to do it every time he swallows.
At first I thought he was saying he was done eating, but he kept opening up his mouth for more (and in the past he's been very good about keeping his mouth shut when he's done). I thought maybe he didn't like the food, so I tried others, but he does this even with his favorite fruits, with my homemade food, food from jars, you name it. I thought I was feeding him too slowly so I tried shoveling huge spoonfuls into his mouth continuously; he didn't seem to mind that (ha) and it didn't help (I prefer to feed him slowly so he doesn't overeat). And he's definitely not constipated.
I'm really getting the impression that something is bothering him about swallowing the food, but I can't think of what. He doesn't do this at all when nursing, and it doesn't start immediately when he starts a solid meal. He's not showing any symptoms of illness so I'm not sure that it's a sore throat, which would be my second or third thought (after constipation and not liking the taste of the food).
I'll bring this up to the pediatrician when we see him next week, but in the meantime, has anyone else seen this?
Hi,
I think I remember my son doing this. I think he did it other times then eating as well. Once he learned to grunt, he loved to make the sound. He actually used to be embarrassing in stores because he was such a grunter. It may just remind him to make the sound...I would be interested to see what the ped says.
he sounds normal, just hungry & eager, maybe add a meal in earlier. My dd would go kind of crazy and make all sorts of noise etc, she was like over eager, and when she wasnt so "starved" ate calmer.
I almost am wondering if this is his way of communicating to you that "hey Mom I get it, I can eat" like its a happy thing. If he doesnt cry after he scrutches his face or grunt, maybe its just a way of communicating. Eating is new to him so the new experience (flavors, texture etc) causes a reaction...even if it doesnt look comfortable..
Hi Bayley,
Is he crying along with the grunting and straining? Because it sounds like his peristalsis starts when he starts sending food down to his stomach. That's natural. We humans were made to evacuate our bowels after eating, although most people think it is normal to move only once a day or less. If he's not actually crying, I wouldn't worry about it.
It sounds like he's assisting his peristalsis to me. And, of course, he'll grow out of it.
"Grams"
from the Pocono Mts. of PA
sounds like a possible food allergy to me. its possible his throat is closing up on him definatelyget it checked. or maybe he doesnt like the texture of that certain food.
My son has GERD (reflux) and does the same sort of thing when he eats acidic things, or things that just don't agree with him. Maybe that's it. But I guess if he does it with all foods, then maybe not. I would def talk to the Dr. It may be a texture issue also.
Oh my gosh! Finally I found someone going through the SAME EXACT THING!! Every other site I go to when I google the words "grunts and cries when swallowing" leads me to acid reflux and gas problems. My son is doing the same thing. He is 7.5.months and eats about a jar of baby food mixed with whole grain cereal once or twice a day.. He never did this while just drinking breast milk or formula. He takes ranitidine as needed for reflux but he seems to need it less lately and doing much better. In fact, the only time I give it to him is when he does the grunt/cry/strain thing because I wondered if it was reflux. I don't believe it is though, and hes not sick. I also thought maybe I wasn't feeding him fast enough so I shoveled the food in heaps.. but again he got fussy half way through. Did you talk to your doctor? What did they say? I.think that's what I'm going to have to do..
