Help! I've started my 6 mo old daughter on solids and she was doing really well for the first couple weeks. Now, as soon as the food hits her tongue, she blows a raspberry and literally sprays food all over the place. I need suggestions on how to get her to stop cause I'm tired of wiping sweet potato off my face every night.
Here's what I've tried so far:
- Keeping the spoon in her mouth (she just blows on the spoon now)
- Telling her 'no spitting' in a stern voice (she just gives me that ornery look)
- Lightly flicking her cheek and telling her 'no' (this made her so upset that I couldn't bear to do it again and she just continued to blow raspberries anyhow)
So I'm at my wit's end now. Other than the little bit we can get in her, she's exclusively breastfed and it's becoming obvious that she's ready for more food in her diet (nursing more often). I'm making sure that she's genuinely hungry when we sit down and she's eager to take the food, she just started blowing raspberries.
Any suggestions would be so appreciated!!!
Thanks for all the great suggestions! Taking the soft food away and giving her something more solid seemed to break her of doing raspberries. Now she's eating like a champ and even sleeping better through the night too (added bonus)!
She just learned a new trick. She'll grow out of it. Put the food away for a moment and as for punishing her, she's too young. Why not wait to introduce food for another month.
Your little one is intelligent...be happy! She's actively discovering that she has the ability to effect change. "Food goes in my mouth and I blow raspberries = food flys everywhere = fun :) " She's feeling the textures of the food and just enjoying her new found abilities. I know it's a messy time, but it's wonderful that your daughter is finding such pleasure in life. Maybe we all should take a moment now and then and blow raspberries with our food! My daughter did this, too, and what I did to "solve" it was stop giving her babyfood. I got one of those fresh food feeders (it's a mesh baggie you put food in and snap closed so baby can't get pieces). My daughter was able to eat (and hold it herself) without the extreme mess of babyfood. I really love it. She eats bananas, peaches, steamed carrots and other veggies, whatever. It's also great because then baby gets the real thing...fresh, with no preservatives or anything, and you don't have to worry about choking. Good luck, and remember...your little one is exploring the wonderful world of her new body's abilities. She's bright and happy...good job, mom :)
my little one did that too. The best thing we could do was to NOT encourage him to blow rasberries at all, even when he is not eating. Since he won't get any positive feedback from it, he probably will stop doing it once the novelty has worn off. As for the feedings, if he kept doing it after telling him no, we would just give him a break from the feeding. He stopped pretty soon after. Good luck.
I know that you want to make sure she if fully fed, but I'd end the meal when she misbehaves- actions speak louder than words, though I'd be sure to throw in that stern, "no spitting," line. It won't be easy, but it will only take a couple of times.
It is hard when something so cute is a problem isn't it? Hee hee.
Just when she does it refrain from giving her another bite.
Wait and then try again, if she goes to do it, don't feed her another bite for a bit. She will catch on.
They have no idea what "no" means at this age and she just learned a new trick and thinks it is funny no matter what reaction she is getting from you. I would say if it continues, try letting her self feed with cheerios, teething biscuit and maybe hold off on the spoon feeding until she is truly done.
The tongue thrust thing is normal when starting to feed solids. it is about the texture, her learning something new.
Also don't encourage her blowing raspberries either outside of feeding, it is very cute, just refrain from her or anyone else doing it with her at all for now.
Good luck! :)
Blowing raspberries is a sign of teething...the vibration feels GREAT on those little gums.
Give her something (like a dampened washcloth or teething toy) to have while you are feeding...gently remove the toy or rag from her mouth when you are spooning in her food.
If she has something to occupy her hands and busy little mind that helps too...so, play "airplane" with her food.
Remember to have fun....
This too shall pass. Don't laugh, ignore it.It's a phase. Certainly don't discipline.
Hi K.
Your baby has learned a new game and she gets a reaction out of you too! She doesn't know what "No" means and she's too young to punish. the nurse at our Dr's office suggested blowing on her face when she starts the raspberries and it will stop her. Also try blowing on her just as you give her the bite before she blows the raspberry it will make her swallow.
But have fun with her. Set the food down and blow some raspberries back. If you play with her abit she might take a few bites for you. Be patient with her, she'll stop after a while and then she'll figure out something new to do. Good luck!
C. C.
I loved Alli B's response and second it.
This is not about spite, this is about healthy development and she's figuring out how her mouth works. She's not thinking about waste or clean up or anything except "Wow! My tongue and lips can do nifty things!" My babies have really liked holding the mesh feeder thing, too.
At this stage, food is more about discovering textures and having fun than getting a lot of nutrition--that's what your milk is for, so congrats on your breastfeeding relationship. Mealtimes will eventually be less troublesome, although you'll need a bib and a broom for awhile yet, as you know. ;)
If you're interested in more feeding info, La Leche League has published a great book called "My Child Won't Eat." You could order it at www.llli.org or borrow it for free from your local LLL group.
I think all kids do this. It's hard on us cuz it's messy but it's fun for them. I learned that if i DON'T react, it gets to be not so much fun for them. If you react, they do it more. so try to just suck it up and know that its just a stage. you'll look back on this and laugh. take pictures. :)
K.,
I understand your frustration, but what you've tried so far is more appropriate for a toddler than an infant. She's probably just having fun ... it's not fun for you, of course, and I'm not suggesting you encourage this behavior but please remember that she's a baby. My suggestion is maybe try mixing some fruit in with the sweet potatoes. She may enjoy the sweetness enough to swallow and/or just feed her fruits for now. Also, if she's sitting up well, switch to finger foods like cut up bananas (messy, though) or Cheerios.
Best wishes,
L.
My baby did this as well, but it only lasted a few days. I did tell him "please don't spit" whenever it happened, and I usually stopped the feeding right after he blew a raspberry, hoping he would get the message that if he did that, he wouldn't get anymore food. I'm not sure if this is what cured it, or if he just grew out of it on his own.
My daughter did this too! What my sister told me to do and it worked OK (I think this is just a phase that all kiddos go through) is to stop feeding her for a few minutes whenever she does this. Don't react - she thinks it's funny and a new cool thing to do - just put the spoon down and wait... Anyway, worth a try. :-)
Well K.,
At this point food is more about the experience---texture, possibilities, mom's reactions---than actually eating. Everyone gets messy when solids start. The more you react to the rasberries, the more entertained she'll be, and so it goes. Try to ignore it, and understand that "this too shall pass".
Good job mommin'!
A.
