Five Month Old Won't Eat Solids

La Leche League say you should introduce solids at 6 months. My first child was not interested in solids until 8 months. The child will eat when she is ready. With my second child I didn't use any baby food. He started eating off the table with us. Dad was happy that he loved mashed potatoes. Babies like cheerios too. AF

Try sweet potatoes. that's what I started both of mine on (they both hated cereal and my second still hates applesause). Sweet potatoes seems to be a winner.

My DD did the same thing until she was 6 1/2 - 7m old. Then one day she ate for my Mom. You could try switching from oatmeal cereal to rice cereal. Its thinner, smoother and not as tart as applesauce for a first food.

M.

I am a 45 year old mother of 5 with ages ranging from 8 to 25 so I think I have a little experience. LOL. I don't think I started feeding any of my children "solids" until they were at least six months old so your little girl may not be ready. Also, when I wanted my babies to sleep I would feed them a little closer to their bed time so they would be full. Babies' stomachs are quite small and empty rather quickly. They get hungry faster, so they tend to wake up to be fed. Lastly, every baby has their own unique time frame for when they sleep through the night, some are great and do it at three months and others you can't get them to sleep the night and they're already one year old. Good Luck, M.

Hi V.,

I wouldn't worry too much about it. My son, who is now 14, would refuse foods by spitting them out or force-puking...even at the tender age of 3 months. (He is my second child. My first would eat anything.) I had a lot of issues (and still do to some standpoint) with him eating. It is all about the texture. Maybe she might like it warmed versus cold, or the other way around. To this day, fruit repulses my son so I make sure that he gets his vitamins in other ways.

Don't worry, Momma! And don't let others make you feel bad about her eating habits.

S. in VA

Don't force it. She's just not ready. Just try once a week until she wants to. We were told by our Dr. not to start solids at all until 6 months.

I'd check with your doctor, but she's probably not ready for solids yet. I didn't start my son on cereal until he was 6 1/2 months old, while my daughter was eating cereal at 4 months. Every baby is different! As long as she's getting enough breastmilk or formula, I'd hold off on the solids. On the brightside, it's one more expense you can put off :) And believe me, I have an 18 year old daughter and there will be MANY expenses in your future!! :)

Don't worry about it too much. My 6 month old will only take a few spoon fulls of baby food at night. That helps her keep full through the nite as by nite time I don't have much milk left for breastfeeding. If you're little one is doing something like that even I'd be surprised ;) Babies typically aren't ready until about 6 months for "solids" and even then they don't start out eating a ton. You may want to try when her big eating time is (but not when she's starving). My 6 month old likes to eat a lot before she goes to bed for the nite.. So this is what I typically do. I breastfeed her at about 6pm on both sides, then I give her baby cereal at about 7:30 or 8 pm. Then she goes back on the breast next time she is hungry again. Also just a point of advice try veggies and then do fruits because it makes for healthier eating habits in the future (try peas, carrots or sweet potatoes- my older kids loved them when they were babies!) Sounds like she's doing well and I'm sure you already know this but only do one new food per week to make sure your little one doesn't have allergies. We found out all of my kids have milk intolerance when they are babies this way so I have to make cereals (and if I need supplement bottles out of lactose free formula). Good luck!

Many pediatricians don't suggest starting solid food until 6months anyway. Solid foods don't always correspond to sleeping through the night either. It is not uncommon for some parents to nurse exclusively for 9months or more. Just try again in a couple of weeks. You are doing fine!

I'm just agreeing with pretty much everyone else. Solid food = sleep is an old wives' tale. If your child is still not taking solids at 8 months, I'd mention it to the doctor. 5 months is still normal to tongue-thrust.

V.,
I know this is a common misconception, but babies don't sleep thru the night because of solid food. I know this for a fact because I PRAYED for all of my kids to magically sleep thru the night when they started on solids. None did. Kids sleep thru the night because they are taught to soothe themselves to sleep without the help of sleep aids like nursing, rocking, music, and the like. And the way you teach them is to give them the opportunity to figure it out on their own. There are all kinds of "teach baby to sleep" techniques online. I tried three different techniques, and all worked as long as I was consistent.

As far as your baby taking solid foods, just give it time. Try the cereal again in a week. Your baby just might surprise you - but don't bet on solids getting your baby to sleep all night!

Wishing you the best, and lots of sleep very soon!

My Daughter didn't start eating solids until she was almost 9 mos old. She was breastfed, I don't know if that makes a difference or not though. She was perfectly happy and content and healthy (she stayed in the 50% range all the way until she was 2) Anyway, as the AAP recommends, I would wait another month, but when you do start, keep in mind that it may be the texture she's objecting, not the food. Try her with stage 2 foods instead of stage 1, experiment with different things for her... you could try having her gum some zwieback toast or teething cookies (just not in the car in case she tries to put the whole thing in her mouth and chokes on it)

It is a little early... My son didn't get it until almost 7 months. It is perfectly normal. Just keep trying the rice cereal mixed w/formula/breastmilk since that is her most familiar taste.

Don't worry about her lack of interest, and don't push it. Little tummies aren't quite ready for foods that early, despite what docs and books might say. Pushing foods early can cause digestive issues and allergies later on. Babies were meant to drink mama's milk for a long time!

Not sleeping through the night has little to do with solids, despite the old wives tales. Both of my girls slept through the night around 9-10 weeks, and they were pretty small at birth (6# and change). What should get your daughter sleeping through the night is a predictable schedule. I used Babywise with my girls and they have been great sleepers. This system has her sleep, wake, eat, play, then sleep. Make sure she gets a full feeding every time she wakes (don't let her snack).

I hope this helps.

I noticed with my 3 that when they were ready for solids coincided with when they got their teeth. My first got his first teeth at 4 months and was ready but I still held him off until 6 months. My second got teeth at 9 months and wasn't ready for solids until then. Our little guy got his teeth at 6 months and was ready then.

Good luck! If you are breastfeeding, from what I understand it can still be necessary to need one to two nursings in the middle of the night until they are 9 months old.

Many moms don't even start to introduce solid foods until 6 months anyway. The only trick is to continue with the same routine. Same spot, same time, same consistancecy. She will pic it up, its all about learning a new way to eat and understanding that this new food is satisifying. My sisters boy took a long time to eat solids because she felt he didn't like it(due to the fact he was spiting it out) but stoped trying because she thought he was not ready. He was nearly 10 or 11 months before she finally was consistant about it and he picked it right up. You daughter is just learning a new thing and will pick it up, no worries!! I started about 6 months with my son and closer to 3 1/2 months with my daughter. They both picked it up right away.

It's a bit early for solids! Feeding too early can cause allergies. can you put a bit of rice cereal in her bottles?
What worked for me was heating the bed up with a heating pad BEFORE putting the baby in taking it out before laying her down, reading books after a warm bath and some fresh air all before bed! Lots of one on one worked for me and my 14yr old son still comes in for one on one!!! Love it!!
Treasure the time they grow up REAL quick! Be patient and enjoy!!

First of all, starting solids anywhere between 4-6 months is perfectly normal! Cereal in a bottle does not help babys sleep through the night. With the cereal, try mixing with some formula/breastmilk but feed with spoon. you can even add fruits to that. Babies will figure out the tounge thing. Just be patient in the beginning. As far as sleep goes, I'm still trying to get my 6.5 month old to sleep through the nite. My doctor told me that when he wakes up in the middle of the nite to let him cry for like 10 minutes and see if he goes back to sleep. By now i think you can tell the difference between im hurting/severely hungry and i just woke up and i could go back to sleep cry. After the 10 minutes if shes still crying then go in and comfort/feed. Eventually mine started sleeping all nite. (until we went out of town and since its been iffy) By 5 months i was giving my son a "1" fruit for breakfast (if using cereal half) and a "1" veggie for supper. along with formula throughout the day. Getting on a good schedule and routine during the day will help your baby know what to expect and could then possibly start sleeping through the nite. Hope some of this helps, A.

I am a nurse and a mom of 3! I will tell you that with my first one I was in a big hurry to start solid foods at like 4 months. With each child, I pushed that starting point back. My advice is don't worry. There is plenty of nutrition in the formula. I didn't start solid foods on my third child until 6 months and he is the biggest of them all!!!(He is now 1 1/2 yrs old and 30 lbs!) I would put it on hold for now and in another month or so try it again. She will eat when she is ready!

Have you tried putting the cereal in her milk bottle and making the hole a little bigger so it will be easier for her to suck it out? I put cereal in my children's bottle at 2 1/2 months and when it was time for it to be spoon fed, they jumped on it. Also, if she sits in a high-chair, put a bowl of cereal in front of her and just let her have at it with her fingers...she will put her hands in the cereal and the hands will automatically go to her mouth. Don't worry too much, she'll come around. Just enjoy your beautiful daughter, they grow up too fast.

V.

You have the right idea. The problem is probably due to the tongue-thrust reflex. Keep in mind that having a full tummy or lack there of may not always be the reason why a baby will wake in the middle of the night. It could be temperature, wet/soiled diaper or she may have been startled or startled herself. My girls didn't start sleeping through the night until 6 months and a little their after. It is the labors of being a mother. In my opinion, the introduction of solids is not always a good idea for various reasons. For all three of my girls, I didn't introduce solids until 12 months.

Some other suggestions for helping babies sleep through the night can be a night time routine: keep the noise low, warm bath, massage, story, feeding then bedtime. The usage of Johnson and Johnson lavender bath and nighttime lotion could be good.

Just some thoughts. Good luck :)

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that once she eats solids, she will then sleep through the night. I would not expect that at all. Do what you are doing and try again next month.

Hi V.,

My daughter (now 1 year) did the same thing, so I just waited until she was 6 months to try again, and by that time she was totally ready. She really liked the Gerber rice cereal that has banana flakes too, but I would only recommend that at 6 months if she has a pretty strong stomach since bananas can be hard to digest for some babies. Hope that helps!

Please let me know what you find. I have a 6 1/2 month old little boy who is doing the same thing. My first child ate like a champ so this is very foreign to me. You are not alone in this issue.

V.,

I wouldn't push the solids...she's probably just not ready yet. Give her a couple of weeks and try again. If she's still not interested, give her another week or two. I didn't give my oldest solids until 7-8 mos. He showed no interest before then, and it wasn't a big deal. My younger one was VERY interested and there was no doubt he wanted to try them at 5-6 mos.

Cereal isn't all it's cracked up to be, anyway. It caused constipation for both my boys, even when we switched from rice to oatmeal. We didn't use it for very long at all before transitioning to baby food and mashed "real" food.

Good luck!

We started cereal and fruit mixed with breast milk (later with formula) in the bottle and cut a bigger hole in the nipple to handle the thickness (kept it thin to start out, then added more cereal for thickness later). At first it was just at night before bedtime and it helped keep hunger at bay until morning. Also made it easier to switch to spoon feeding since our little guy already had the taste and texture down pat!

Hi V.,

My son (now 22 mos. old) refused solids until almost 9 months of age. He didn't sleep through the night until 10 months. I spoke to my doctor about it, but he wasn't concerned. As long as she is getting enough formula/breastmilk she is fine. All I can tell you is keep offering it to her.

Good Luck,
T.

Both of my boys were that way for at least a month when I tried to feed them solids. With my oldest son, Ben, I gave up too quickly I think. But now with Nick, I just kept trying at every meal--breakfast, lunch, dinner. And I tried all types of jarred food, mixed with the rice cereal or oatmeal. One day, he started eating it. Ariana will probably get the hang of it. Unfortunately for me, Nick (almost 9 mo) still isn't sleeping through the night despite his food intake. I'm starting to lose it a little!!

her intestines may not be ready for solids try putting the cereal in her formula using a larger hole in the nipple if you are nursing express some milk into a sterile bottle and put the cereal in there evie

Hello,
The pediatrician said that if the baby still has the tongue thrust, then she is not ready for solids yet. Don't push her, she will let you know when milk isn't enough anymore.
As far as this making her sleep through the night, that may not happen whatsoever. My son didn't sleep through the night until he was nearly 1. My daughter, since 2 months, sleeps through the night and she is now 5 months old and we are now introducing cereal to her. All kids are different!
Good luck!!

She just may not be ready developmentally. You can't rush her. She'll be ready when she is. never fear. One day she'll be trying to grab the food off of your plate! ;)

http://askdoctorsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp

Hi V.,

Had you thought about calling the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters and talk to a nutritionist. If you have a pediatrician, he may be able to help you or his nurse. Good luck. D.

Hi V.,
Sounds like Ariana might not be quite ready for solids yet.
I would suggest giving it a break until she is 6 months and is showing interest in what you are eating. Also the food you are giving her is quite different from what she is used to. I would suggest you start with just a TBS of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk/formula to a very thin consistency, this will be more familiar to her.... My 6 month old (daughter number 4) just started solids last week. She just needed a few days to learn how to handle something from a spoon instead of the breast grin. Also make sure you introduce one food at a time.. start with the rice cereal for 3 or 4 days and then move on to a vegetable or a mixed grain cereal, keep several days between introductions of new foods. Do fruits later so she doesn't get hooked on sweet stuff only. Good luck!

Hi there. Its because 5 months old is too young for solid foods. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. THis means not even water. If youre formula feeding then it is still the same.

Eating solids does not equate to sleeping thorugh the night unfortuantely. Some babies take months to learn to sleep through the night and this is independent of a full belly. Sorry for that bad news!

Good luck.
J.

V. we are in the same boat. We have a 5 1/2 month old girl who still has the tongue problem, whenever we put food in she uses her tongue to push it all out. What we have noticed though is if we put the cereal in and then keep the spoon enough for her to wrap her tongue around, she will suck on the spoon like it is the bottle and is then able to swallow most of the cereal. She is not yet sleeping through the night be we are hopeful that is will be soon. She is only eating about 3 Tbsp of cereal at a time right now. Good luck to you

Hi V.,

Your daughter is perfectly normal. Some babies don't take solids until they are 6 or 7 months. She will do it in her own time. I know it's not always helpful at the time, but in situations like these I try to think - I know he will/won't be ____ when he's 10 or 20 or however old.

Good luck and congratulations on your precious baby girl.

K. - SAHM of 2 fabulous boys, 5 and 2

solids are meant to learn to eat not for nutrition. if you think it may help her sleep through the night you can mix some in a bottle before bed. they also have bottles meant for feeding a baby baby food and she may not even realize it isnt a liquid if she's ok with the taste of it. dr.s now rexcomend waiting until baby i 6 months before giving baby food just because its not needed before then. whatever you do just rememer that she wont be a baby forever and that she will one day slep through the night and you will be wishing she were a baby again. good luck.

V. -

I have always lived by the rule that when they are ready they will take it. Silly question - Have you tried mixing the grains with her formula? Not in her bottle, but use the formula as the liquid to soften it? It took me about a week to figure out that one. As for solid foods, does she reach for food that you are eating? The rule of thumb that I was taught is - babies are ready to transition to solid foods when they recognize foods you are eating and want them. Pay attention to how she responds to you. This will give you clues.

L.

i think you are doing everything right.
not only offering her a variety, but enjoying her adorable responses and not worrying about her.
just doing what your already excellent instincts are telling you.
:) khairete
S.

She might not be ready just yet although both of my were eating cereal and fruits by 5 months. I would suggest you try Rice cereal. It tends to mix smoother. Have you tried bananas? It too is smoother than applesauce. What about putting some Rice cereal in a bottle with her formula? Mine didn't take it that way but I know lots that do. Be sure to use a special nipple or cut an X in a regular one so the cereal can actually pass through.

My son had to start on cereal at 2 weeks of age (he was up to 8 oz but back to every two hours). He prefered his cereal thick and would not take it in a bottle but my nephew only took it in a bottle. My daughter was closer to three months and liked it thin but also took it from a spoon.

Good luck.

Hi, I totally understand what you're going through. My son is almost 5 months old, and won't eat solids either. He tries, but his little tongue just pushes everything right back out. My husband and I decided to wait a couple of weeks before we try again to see if this will help his tongue-thrust reflex to go away a little more. We started him on solids to try to help him sleep through the night, but now I've decided it's not worth it to force feed him. If he won't eat in a couple of weeks I'm going to wait until he's 6 months old to try again. I know this doesn't help with getting your daughter to eat solids or sleep through the night, but I wanted to let you know I completely understand what you're going through! I have friends with babies younger than mine that are eating solids, and it was very disheartening for me at first. You could always put a little cereal in a bottle (if you aren't breast feeding), but I'm not a huge fan of that since so many doctors, books, and web sites advise against that. Anyway, I hope your daughter starts eating soon so that you can sleep!

Good Luck with getting your little one to sleep through the night. I don't think it matters how much food you little one has in her belly, if she is waking up out of habit she is still going to get up. My children did not sleep through the night until they were 2. Anyway, I know that is not what you asked advice for. My son had eating issue, I tried to make his cereal really liquidy by adding more applejuice (I mixed cereal with applejuice instead of water). This just allows it to go down more smoothly. I hope this was a little helpful
T.
The MOM Team, Helping Moms Stay Home
www.cheerforyourfuture.com

I would give her some time. Solids aren't usually introduced until after the 6th month and only if they show interest in what's in your plate.

You may also try varying her choices. My daughter started on solids at 6months, but she never liked cereal (of any kind), or apple sauce. I'd give her the babyfood version of what we ate, and she'd love it. Of course it's most foods that are in season, and organic/locally grown. Babies have an innate attraction to "whole foods".

~L.
www.accesspilates.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/businesssavvymoms/

Hi, V..

Loading a baby with solid food doesn't guarantee she'll sleep through the night. I've had many friends who were frustrated when their kids didn't miraculously start sleeping through the night when they started them on solids. It's a myth, for the most part, though I'm sure it works for some people.

Obviously, your baby is just not ready for solids. Why are you starting her so early? Most docs say five months, and La Leche League suggests parents wait even longer. I know women who've waited until the baby is one year before introducing any real solid foods, and the babies were just fine.

Please let your little one stay little for awhile longer. She's not ready to move to the next development step; please don't force her. It will only make her learn discomfort and frustration around you when she cannot/will not learn what you're trying to get her to do.

Good luck.

I say don't push it. If she won't eat it, she must not be ready. She must be your first. I wanted to try it just to see if she would too, and for the sleeping reason, but in the long run, the child will eventually eat. Enjoy feeding her milk (hopefully breastmilk) and try again in a month!

V.,

Try waiting until she's 6 months old. She sounds like she's not ready yet. This is the recommended age anyway even though a lot of doctors will suggest starting younger. Good luck!

L. - mother of 3 girls ages 9, 4 & 2

Hi, V.,

Most experts now say you shouldn't start solids until 6 months, as a baby's digestive tract is not ready for them yet. Giving cereal will not help a baby sleep through anyway--that's an old wives' tale! It's actually a choking hazard and could lead to stomach upset and less sleep at night. Five hours is considered sleeping through the night at this age, and not all babies make it for that long this early.

http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-start-slee...

Your child might not like the texture of foods yet. My daughter was very late with solids and we just followed her lead, since she was healthy and strong.

Hope this helps,

P.

5 months is still young. If she is still doing the tongue thrust and isn't showing interest then she is NOT ready for solids!

Giving her solids will NOT change her sleeping habits. She will sleep through the night when she is developmentally ready. What you feed her throughout the day will not change that. If you give her solids too early, it can mess with her digestive system and could cause more problems (belly aches, constipation etc.)

Just continue to feed her when she is hungry and she will eat solids when she is ready.

Good Luck!