My grandson is 11 months old and we cant get him to eat much. My daughter started him sort of late on baby food(he was about 4 months old). He went straight to level 2 and was doing well with that even though he was fussy on which ones he would eat. Now he should be on some finger foods and the only thing he`s eating is baby cookies, those thing that melt in their mouths and the baby toast. We have tried stage 3 and some table foods but he puts his finger in his mouth and tries to gage. The youngest anirexia person Ive seen. (only kidding). My daughter never asks the Dr. the right questions when she sees him. I am getting so frustrated because I watch him full time while his parents work and I want to make sure he`s doing o.k.

I remember havinf problems with my kids but not to this extent. What should he be eating ate this age? He is very healthy besides this and I think I am worried about this more then anyone else.

Anybody else have a baby that doesnt eat or can you suggest something that might work. nancy

__________________

When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

I have a foster baby that is 15 months old. She will only eat mac n cheese, and pasta. I talked to her Dr. (I was concerned she wasn't getting enough vitamins) and he put her on "Go and Grow" formula by Similac. Now she has 3 formula cups to go along with her food. It has been 2 months now and she still is not a good eater.

Maybe you should go with his mom to the Dr. next time.

__________________
Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

At four months old, a baby should still be on breast milk. That seems really early to start solids. If his mom's still able to lactate, or would consider relactation, that's still the best option, even at 11 months. If that's not possible, formula supplementation should keep picky eating from being much of a nutritional problem.

How much formula is he getting? My son was hard to get to eat but that is because daddy always gave him the bottle. I would go to work and all he would feed him was bottles because he was to lazy to take the time to feed him baby food. We struggled forever to get him to eat.We literally had to walk him around and show him things just to get 1 jar down him and even then it would take an hour. If he is getting to much formula he won't eat. I remember giving my son juice bottles that I added carrots or sweet potatoes to. I even bought him pediasure but I think he was over 1. He continued(and still is to some degree) to be a very picky eater but now at 12 years old I can't get him to quit eating. Have you tried grown up food? Cut up bananas, cooked carrots, scrambled eggs, avocado, pasta, pancakes---just remember to cut them up very small. Good Luck!!!

How much milk or juice does he get every day? Is he sleeping, peeing/pooping, playing and happy?

None of my kids really ate much "food" until well after a year. My oldest's first food other than home made summer squash, cherios and an occasional cracker was his first birthday cake. I don't believe 4 months is late for being introduced to solids. Perhaps this website might help you Babies and solid foods: What to serve when - MayoClinic.com

If he is gaining or holding his weight and active he is most likely pretty normal. I would warn against forcing food, which might really start a horrible cycle and a power struggle I guarantee that he will win.

When my now 17 yr old son was a toddler he didn't eat much and it really worried me. By trial and error I finally figured out that he hated baby food! When I started giving him "real food" he ate much better. He's always had allergy problems (even though I breast fed him well into toddlerhood) and I think he just couldn't taste the bland baby food very well. I think his sense of smell/taste has always been a bit off-still is. A few questions-does he have problems eating with his mom/dad? Is it just you and he's picking up on your anxiety? I agree with the other poster about not forcing foods. If he's happy and gains weight, etc... he's probably fine. I'm know it's worrisome though.

I also think my kids didn't start solids until they were maybe 6 months old. Then they ate the creamy (Stage 1 and 2) baby foods for awhile. Maybe he doesn't like the texture of the stage 3 foods so I would go back to stage 2 and also give him some finger foods to try. He is still pretty little and if he is gaining weight and his Dr. isn't worried I would not worry either.

If the baby is happy, growing and meeting milestones don't worry about it.

__________________
I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

As a couple others said, starting solids at 4 months is actually rather early. I believe 4 to 6 months is recommended. I breastfed both of mine, and the youngest didn't really eat anything until he was almost a year old. Breast milk is complete, so that was fine. If your GS is on formula, you should probably check with the doctor and get the one that's most nutritionally complete. I might add that babies should not be on cow's milk until at least one year.

nightowlrn has some good points.

Four months is not late to start on baby food, it is early. It is recommended that infants not start on cereal, food etc until 6 months. Starting them earlier can cause gastro problems as well as others. Perhaps he is having some reflux or something gastro related now. Or it could be a sensory issue, he doesn't like the texture, etc.

__________________
Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

My youngest daughter would not eat food until she was over a year old. My doctor told me as long as she gain, or did not lose any weight it is ok. The Dr also said that some kids have a hard time with texture of food so offer a wide varity of foods. She is 8 now and eats us out of house and home lol, but she ate very little until she was about 5.

As long as he's still on breast milk or formula (and he should be) he'll be fine nutritionally. My boys didn't start solid food until 6-7 months (maybe later for my youngest, he still only had 2 teeth on his 1st b-day) They also didn't really do the baby food thing. They usually just had modified versions of what we were eating.

__________________
Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

This is exactly what I think the problem is and I say something to my daughter but I dont want to interfare. I am the one trying to get him to eat. He takes about 4 -5oz bottles. I cant give him anything with milk like scrambled eggs in it because he is on soy.

The think that bothers me is I dont think he likes the texture and sticks his little finger in his mouth and gags. nancy Feel better knowing other people had the same problem.

__________________

When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

At 11 months they should still be getting all the nutrition they need from breast milk or formula.

And I am going to agree with everyone, 4 moths is really early to start solids.

__________________
Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

Thanks everyone I feel better and I`ll leave the poor kid alone. My kids were born in the 70`s and it seems all we did was feed them.

__________________

When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

Yep, I was born in '77, the doctor told my mom to put me on rice cereal at 2 weeks. Appearantely it didn't go well, and she waited to try again at 2-3 months and everyone thought that was really late.

By the time my brother was born in '87, she didn't even bother until he was 5-6 months.

__________________
Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

I agree 4 months is early.

You might want to also keep an eye on him to make sure he isn't a little bit tongue tied. This could cause him to have problems swallowing and with his speech later on. It is actually very common.


My kids also never ate jarred baby food. I learned it is really easy to just throw a couple of baby carrots or broccoli or really any veggie in a mug and microvave them until soft then mush them. It was as easy alomost as opening a jor and they would actually eat it.

Either way you should tak to his Dr. about it. Maybe you could take him and explain that you are the one with him all day and tell them what you observe ie your perspective on things.

My doctor told me that even when they start on food, they will still get the majority of their nutrition and calories from the formula/breast milk. At this age, they are really just getting the feel of foods, and how to chew, etc.

There is a great book called "What to expect the toddler years" and "What to expect the first year". You may want to check out a copy of these from the library, or maybe your DD has a copy. They are a great help.

__________________
Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I will chime in and agree with what has been said. I think 4 months is early. I breastfed my 3. I wanted to nurse them for a year, but my girls were biters at about 7 months and self weened. They still got most of their nutrition from formula after that, and didn't eat much food. I had to ween my son at 9 months because I found out I was pregnant again. Some people can nurse while they are pregnant, but I was not one of them. . He got formula too, but ate other food pretty well. I think if he is gagging it might be a sign that he isn't ready for that texture yet. I would try going back to stage 1 and baby cereal. But like others have said, most of his nutrition should still be coming from breast milk or formula. As long as he is growing and going to the bathroom normally I wouldn't be too concerned.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

One of our grandsons wouldn't eat much. He liked those Gerber treats and Kix cereal and wouldn't eat other things. She weaned him from breast feeding at 14 months and he would not drink any milk from a cup.

He got sick and was in the hospital for days before they found that he has a severe allergy to milk. He is not able to tolerate any thing dairy. No cheese ,yogurt, ice cream etc.
Now they think the foods made him feel bad so he didn't want to eat them. (?)

Soy milk has made a big difference in his life.

6 months is now about the time when they want babies to start on solids and to go very slowly because of allergies. Try lots of little finger foods, cheerios, cut up banana, avacado little bits of bread, cheese, that he can eat... Does he have many teeth? Start with the fruits, bananas and applesauce, just to get him taking it at all... Good luck.

This is what I was going to say....

When my son (now almost 20) was younger there was a time when he didn't want to eat anything besides spaghetti O's and Cherrios. When I spoke to the doctor about this, he said that as long as he was having his milk, juice, vitamins, water, etc........ and was healthy, meeting his milestones, etc.....he was fine. He was a healthy baby and I shouldn't worry about it. He told me that baby's won't starve themselves and if this satisfied him, to just leave it alone. He said it was probably just a phase. Of course he was right (but you know.....I was young and it was my first, so yeah...we worry...lol)

__________________
MyCoupons Is #1 for Holiday Shopping

I just borrowed this book from my DD. I`m reading about his age right now. Thanks

__________________

When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

My grandson is on soy milk and we are very careful about not giving him anything that has regular milk in it. I learned from giving my daughter milk in mashed potatoes when she was on soy formular. thanks

__________________

When you don`t know what to do-Walk fast and look worried.

My youngest was allergic to milk so we switched him to soy and then he developed a soy allergy. His gastroenteroligist suggested I try milk again as many babies grow out of milk allergies by the time they turn two. Well, he ok with the milk as long as it was low fat (2% or less). He could not tolerate whole milk or anything made from whole milk. He is 5 1/2 now and most of what we eat is low fat, so I don't know if he can tolerate whole milk now or not, but its really not an issue since he should be eating mostly low fat anyway.

My older DS went through a phase where he would eat six #3 size babyfood jars at one meal. The Dr said as long as he was hungry to keep feeding him. Well suddenly right after he turned one he would not eat any kind of baby food at all. He only wanted finger food he could pick up himself. He went through a phase where for two weeks he would only eat Fruit Loops. The Dr. said as long as I was offering other things and he was growning normally that was fine. He is a very healthy, tall thin eight year old who likes a good variety of fruits and vegetables.

I guess my point is that if the baby is growing and developing normally that I wouldn't worry about it too much. Every baby develops differently and at 11 months, I don't think there is cause for alarm. If the baby was closer to age 2, then I would have your DD discuss it in depth with her pediatrician, but it sounds normal for an 11 month old.

Also, to those who asked, teeth really don't make a difference in what a baby can eat. My oldest had two teeth when he turned one and he ate all kinds of finger foods (cheerios, small pieces of cut fruit & veggies, etc.)

Sarah........

As a mom to a little guy who just turned one...I wanted to chime in...

You might want to check out the "do not serve" list of foods for your grandson as well. There are about 4-6 different food items that are not recommended before age one...and sometimes age 2 due to higher occurrences of food allergies in small children. The age when these can be introduced is no earlier than one, but some doctors say to wait until the child is two years old.

I know that the list includes eggs, honey, nuts, seafood...but I am drawing a blank on the others at this moment.

I hope that helps!

The 10 month old I watch has been on baby cereal and jar food for some time now and lately has become a picky eater too. Her doctor said it was ok because it was probably her teeth bothering her that are coming in and as long as she gets her formula still she will be fine. HTH!

__________________
~*~Live life to the fullest*~*

Along with the other posters ... I think it's a little early to worry about it. If you don't think he's getting enough nutrition then supplement, but really he's probably getting everything he needs through formula, and just keep trying ... maybe go back to the stage 2's for a bit. The only thing that triggered in me is sensory issues because I have 2 adopted kids with sensory integration problems and sometimes that shows up in eating .... they only like mushy food, or only like crunchy food. One of mine crunches up carrots and then spits them out because he just wants the crunchy sensation, not to really eat it. I wouldn't worry about this though ... just keep in mind if in 6 months you're still having problems.