Eating Issues for 8 Month Old

I don't think you should worry at all! She's just a tiny one and I think it is way too early to worry that she will have any lasting issues. Some babies are just reluctant to try new things. I would offer her new foods at every meal and try to limit her bottles between meals so that she is hungry at meal time (easier said than done, I know!!). If you can eat at the same time as her, she might try to mimic you and eat the food. Eventually she'll get the hang of it.

I don't think you shoudl worry whatsoever. When my son was that age he did the same thing. Anytine anythig solid woudl come in contact with his mouth he'd gag. I'd give him a week, try it again and eventually he got to where he was eating cheerios and puffs without issue. It took him awhile to get fully into solid foods, but now he seems to be fine. We ate pasta and chicken lastnight and he ate it right along with us, and pancakes for breakfast this morning. (he just turned one). I think every baby develops differently, so try not to compare, which is hard I know... Also, my son never really got into the stage 3 foods at all, he sort of skipped over them and went right into solid foods (eventually!). Good luck, and she'll let you know what she's ready for, just take it slow.

I'd check with the Dr. to be on the safe side however, do keep trying to give her different foods. You may find something she does not like this week she may like next week and if not try again. You don't want a finiky eater!! Good luck.. That's great she's drinking from a regular cup!

I've always heard that it can take up to 10 tries for a baby to eat or like the food given to them. Try to give her the new food and if she doesn't like/eat it, then wait a few days and try again, and so on. I wouldn't get in the early habit of only giving her the foods that she likes. Just keep offering her a variety. I always add a little of the food that my daughter likes to the side of one she doesn't like, that way she still getting a taste of the one she likes. Then by the end she's only eating the new food. It works most of the time!
It's a good thing that you're offering her the finger foods for her to feel and even throw on the floor. She's just trying to figure it out and eventually she'll eat it! Both of my girls loved the Gerber graduates finger foods strawberry apple puffs at that age.
Good Luck.

My son turned 2 two days before Christmas. He had the same issues. He gagged or choked on everything. Even the thicker #2 foods. 2 summers ago (he was around 6 or 7 months) he had a slight cold. Out of the blue he would cough and throw up. This happened 3 or 4 times in a few minutes. My husband was working late, so I was home with my kids myself. He is my 5th, so I don't just get parinoid for nothing. He was actually choking. It was about 8 p.m. and I was afraid when he went to bed what would happen. At the time he was in his jumper completely standing. I'm one of those moms who always holds my babies. I ended up taking him to the ER. The doctor was so dismissive. She did an xray of his throat, to make sure he didn't swollow something. I told her I could guarantee he didn't. She came back and said there was nothing there (imagine my surprise). We left She said his throat wasn't swollen or anything and no fever,etc. A couple days later the radiologist calls to say he saw something in the xray and it seemed to be an absess. I got scared and called the pediatrician right away. He reviewed a copy of the xrays and determined that he has a thick patch of skin in his throat. He said that for a normal baby if they get post nasal drip or their throat is a little sore or irritated or a bit swollen its not a big deal, but because he has this thick patch if he has any of those issues going on it will make it harder to swollow, thus causing him to gag and choke. I never tried to force him to eat things before that, but after that I was extremely careful with him. I still cut things extremely small for him and very cautious about the things he eats. Its a lot better though. People used to try to guilt me into giving him things to eat when he was smaller or sneak him things, until they saw him choke and gag on things. I don't know if that's whats wrong with your daughter but it could be a possibility. He is very healthy and happy otherwise. Don't worry so much about it. As long as she isn't underweight and is developing normally just be careful.
K. S.

At 8 months, I don't think it's uncommon for her to not be on table food yet. My son is 4 but I don't think he started eating regular food until he was over a year old. I wouldn't worry about it. She'll show interest when she's ready (she can't eat baby food forever!).

H.,
She is only 8 1/2 months old, I know doctors and others find it ok and it is if they are ready to eat foods like that. But some arent. My son didnt start eating until about 11months. She could have a Gag reflux, that is not helping matters much too. Both of my boys had it and So far they have both pretty much out grew it. Just keep trying and she will get the hang of it, take it from me, dont push too hard, they will do it when they are ready, as long as she is not losing weight you are good. Good Luck and Best Wishes to you and your little girl.

Hi H.,

I so UNDERSTAND! I kinda went through the same thing with my daughter, who is now 1 yr old. She did not start on table food until she was 11 months old, she just wasn't interested. Her cue to me that she was ready to transitio from baby food, was she stopped eating her favorite stage 2 foods, she never liked the stage 3 foods, she went straight to eating table food. It was around 8 1/2 months that she finally became interested in finger foods as well, she LOVES the gerber puffs, or the generic brand as well. She also LOVES those biter biscuits, they are helpful with her teething. She still is not interested in a sippy cup, but everyday we offer one to her. One thing that I didn't know to do at first, that other moms on here suggested to me...is to get another type of sippy cup...the NUBY brand ones with the soft spout tend to be a favorite, we are getting closer with that one than the playtex hard spout kind. Even though my daughter will not drink from a sippy, she will from a regular glass as well, her dr. told me that is actually better for them...so we are trying both....anything to get rid of the bottle right now.....

The key is..don't give up, just keep trying to give her a cracker or some cheerios everyday, when she is ready, she will stop playing with them and eat them.
At the end of the day, YOU know your daughter best, and SHE will let you know when she is ready for new foods, etc. Don't stress...you are doing everything right!!

Hope this helps! Hang in there!

Hello,

I would not worry a bit! Every baby is different. She will be perfectly healthy and all she really needs is formula until she is a year old. It is a good idea to start trying foods and other liquids so they can practice and find out what they like but there is no need to force it. My daughter is 10 1/2 months old and I was just as worried just about a month ago. She still doesn't really drink out of her sippy cup. She will only drink orange juice out of it otherwise she will just chew on the nipple. With foods I just started giving her the Gerber puffs and she loves them but she wouldn't have even touched them just a month or so ago. She is still pretty little. I feed her 2nd and 3rd foods depending what it is but I haven't started her on meats because I do not feel she is ready. Especially if your daughter is gagging and really not wanting to eat the foods then I would just give it some time. As long as her weight is fine and she is taking her bottles okay and not acting hungry all the time then you should relax and know she is perfectly healthy. I know it is exciting to watch them eat and feed them new things...I was just as anxious...but she will come around. Good luck!

I wouldnt say overreacting just concerned for your daughters health. I wouldnt give up the thing to know is Patience, Patience, Patience, I know easier said then done. Just dont give up keep introducing her to the same foods over and over every couple of days and eventually she will start eating them, I am having the same problem with my son, he wont eat any kind of meat, all he will eat is p'nut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheerios, Jello, drinks this V8 its juice but gives the nutrition of veggies, loves water, loves gold fish and teddy grahams cookies, he just doesnt seem to want to eat veggies either, but whenever we have them we keep giving them to him. He never liked Mac and cheese then just one day started to eat it, I was like wow he eats it now, but then some days he wont eat much of anything. If she is teething she wont eat much either, my son is the same way, but they wont starve, they will eat when they are hungry, give her what you know she will eat and keep trying other food, I know it will get frustrating but it will get better.

Hope that helps

G.

I have a daughter that had the SAME problem with food! She is now 2 1/2 and in the last 6 months we have stopped giving her baby food! YES I know that sounds TERRIBLE! But she would not eat ANYTHING else! And she would ONLY eat the stage 2 foods and nothing green! Only the sweet stuff! She hated the stage 3s because of the chunks in it, she would spit them out. We talked to her pediatrician several times and he recommended feeding her the baby food if she would eat it. He also looked at her tonsils and noticed they are VERY large! He said that may be a reason she doesn't like to eat and she gags when she eats. so we will have those taken out when she's 3! BUT she is not eating a lot more, she is just EXTREMELY picky! Some days she won't eat a thing and others she eats a lot! Very unpredictable! Just hang in there! It will get better! Just keep feeding her the baby food, it's not going to hurt her!

Oh and by the way! I am also a nurse! But am a stay at home mommy right now! =) I also would be interested in a little volunteer work so I can keep current!!

Kids will start eating at their own rate. I have four children and they are all different. Just keep offering her food and don't overreact when she refuses one. If she sees it as a game to make Mommy and Daddy upset, she may refuse food just to play the game. I gave my first two baby food, but I made my second two's baby food myself. Do you feed her right out of the jar? Maybe if you start feeding her the regular food from a divided plate, you could occasionally start adding some table food to "her plate". Maybe adding a little bit of mashed potatoes mixed with one of her favorite vegetables will acclimate her to a new texture and taste slowly. You could do the same thing with the bananas and applesauce, just mix the pureed variety with the baby food variety and see if she responds to the texture that way. My daughter wouldn't eat meat of any kind without a lot of coaxing until she was three. She still isn't fond of most meats. I've also been known to puree carrotts and add them to spaghetti sauce to get some veggies in my kids. All's fair in love and raising healthy children!