My little guy is getting to the point that he only likes to feed himself instead of being fed, but can't use a spoon yet and struggles to pick up food that isn't dry. I can usually get him to eat baby cereal once a day, but he doesn't always want it and I'm not sure how to give it to him otherwise. When did you stop giving baby cereal to your kids and what did you give them to make sure they were getting enough iron? How long until your kids were able to feed themselves better?
I suppose I should give a little background as to why I'm "worrying" about feeding/eating. My oldest son (who is 2 1/2) was born with a cleft palate, which wasn't repaired until he was 14 months old. He couldn't suck until his surgery was done, therefore he never developed strength in his jaw muscles and when we thought he was chewing his food, he was actually mashing it against the roof of his mouth instead (which we didn't find out until much, much later.) We thought his refusal to try chunky foods was just him being stubborn and that he would learn to eat in time (which is what his doctors assured us was the case), but that only led to him being afraid to eat and caused a bunch of sensory issues. We went through speech therapy for 7-8 months last year for him to finally learn how to chew, and now he has been going to occupational therapy for feeding for the past several months. He has made a lot of progress, but he still only eats pureed or dry, crunchy foods. Every meal or snack has the potential to turn into a battle, and has been this way his entire life.
Sooo...since I don't have any experience to draw on for feeding a "normal" kid, I am worried that I am going to do something wrong and wind up with two problem eaters, even though my little guy hasn't had any issues with tolerating chunkier foods. Any words of wisdom or advice would be appreciated--thanks :)
deffinitely give him a handful of cherios, plus they also make baby finger food...little meat sticks, chunky veggies and fruit. then like the other writers said, slip in a bite or two with the spoon. He won't ever learn to eat with utensils if he doesn't play with them first :)
D.
I am sorry I did not read the whole thing so I am sorry if this really does not fit, but My daughter is 12 months old she likes the independence but misses the target, so I slip in a spoonful here and there but still allow her to finger food what is on her chair.
With my last, I never once used baby food. I started with simple non-allergy foods like banana, sweet potato, baked potato, unsweetened applesauce, and later mashed a little chicken up a bit with my fork. My daughter used kiwi fruit a lot and avocado for her babies. Baby cereal isn't necessary at all and is yukky. Your baby's old enough for a little meat or beans to supply iron. Let them eat what your family eats unless there are allergy problems, then proceed cautiously.
Instead of giving him baby cereal, give him plain cheerios. He's old enough to start feeding himself, even if he starts with his fingers. Good luck!
my 11 mnth old is the same way with his independence in fact he refuses to drink from a bottle now and has to have his formula through a sippy cup. I dont know how many teeth your baby has, but he is going to get most off his nutrition through formula. also try pieces of cheese slices, they are easy to pick up as well as little pieces of chicken stipes (my dad works at chillies restraunts and brings home the unseasoned chicken stripes they use for fajitas, they are soft enough to mash with gums and my son eats them everytmes he sees grandma and grandpa.) crackers and cheerios are good to, and when you are trying to feed him baby food try giving him his own spoon to hold while you feed him with another.
my dd is a great eater and just loves food. we loved this website wholesome baby.com it was really really helpful as to timetables and how to introduce new foods. It was always fun to try something new w/ this site, and I think that is why at 19 mo she is still a great eater. as for not being able to feed themselfs, that is totally normal.....honestly you just have to let them get messy and figure it all out. if 10% of the food actually enters their mouth good for them, really. if you dont let them get messy and try then they wont learn. my dd used a spoon early on bc I let her 'play' w/ it and her food so that she could figure it all out. and of course she watches me eat too so that helps. good luck and enjoy the differences in your children....maybe the younger one will help the older one want to try new foods when he sees him trying maybe that will ease his fears a bit. good lukc xo
No worries...I would just keep offering healthy finger food, cereal if he will eat it...you didn't mention if he still has a bottle/breastfeeding? My 3 didn't have ANY solids til they were a year old and they are normaal adults 26,28 and 31. He sounds normal to me, all toddlers are fussy eaters.
Its normal to worry about the next child having issues, even when they're doing great, just due to the traumatizing situation the first caused. In my case it was my daughter being an inefficient breast-feeder. She dropped down to 10 oz. less then her birth weight at 5 weeks old and we had to supplement with formula, which caused her to refuse the breast. It was very traumatizing. With my second she was a GREAT breast-feeder and gained quickly and steadily, but I was still worrying all the time that something would go wrong. You'll look back at this and smile someday, but for now, be assured that you're doing what's best for your little guy!
Until a baby is 1 year old the MAJORITY of their nutrition comes from breast milk or formula. Solids are just an opportunity for them to experiment with tastes and textures. So be happy for what he's eating, but don't feel like you have to get x amount of cereal down him. I haven't messed with rice cereal for months now (my daughter is 10 months old). She eats cheerios, and any fruit, veggies, tofu, corn or beans as finger foods I give her. She does MUCH better when she can feed herself, she enjoys stuffing her mouth and its adorable - though very messy. :) I'm starting to give her whatever I can from the table too.
Hope this is helpful! Best wishes!
I'm not sure of the other answers you received. However, I have a 10 month old going on 11 months soon. She started with eating Cheerios and practicing picking those up. I'm now feeding her something she can pick up herself at every meal.
This morning she had her baby oatmeal mixed with fruit and cinnamon. That was followed up by a ripe banana cut into pieces that she could scoop up herself. I also give her waffles, lightly toasted, with butter and a baby food fruit smeared on top. I cut this up into pieces that she can handle and she LOVES it!
Other items I cut up and let her eat are be room-temperature cheese (so it gets softer) in small cubes (like the size of a pea or so), soft fruits and veggies (they are slippery and hard for babies to grasp and get to the mouth, but it's good practice once your baby has mastered dry cereals and breads), and pieces of sprouted wheat bread smeared with edamame hummus (available at Trader Joe's stores) or a spreadable cheese. Next I'm going to try scrambled eggs.
Hope that helps!
At 10 mos he is more than ready to try feeding himself (let him do so, even though it's going to be messy and then you finish it up with a portion that he didn't mess with) He can also eat non baby food in addition to the cereal. Keep on eye if his refusal for food is because of teething issues too.
He should be breastfed or formula fed in addition to other food until he is 1. That will make up for any deficiencies in what he is eating. To encourage spoon use, make the cereal thicker so that some of it sticks to the spoon even if he turns it over. Guide it to his mouth but try to make it feel like he is doing it. And of course praise him when the spoon makes it in his mouth.
This is normal. Replace wet baby cereal with cheerios or gerber graduates puffs. My DD never liked being fed and hated baby food. I put her on table food (in addition to breastmilk) at 7 months. I fed her cheerios, mac and cheese, toast, bananas, yogurt, gerber puffs, gerber dried fruit, etc. Relax, he should be fine. Just watch him eat to make sure he doesn't choke on anything.
