Can a 8 month old be a picky eater?

Question

My son will be turning 8 months in a couple of weeks. I know that he should of been started on solids by the time he turned 5 months but i'm having a hard time. He doesn't eat very much. He'll taste the foods, takes about 4-5 spoonfuls then pushes my hand away or turns his head..i've tried giving him cereal or oatmeal for breakfast but he doesn't take it..i've tried giving him other things for lunch and dinner but no luck either. Even table foods don't interest him as much, well besides smashed beans..lol, i really do believe that is the reason why he doesn't get a full night sleep..he wakes 2 times at night for feedings. Don't know if it's ok but my husband gave him rice milk last night and he only woke once at 4 a.m. after putting him to sleep at 8:30, so i know it has to do with him not eating enough..what can i do? how do you make your own baby food? my other kids never had this problem.

Answer 1

no an 8 month old isn't a picky eater

until 12 months the main thing in babys diet is formula or milk

after 6 months solids can be started but are only for practice of chewing and swallowing and are optional

1-6 tablespoons a day would be normal for an 8 month old

he can eat anything that does not contain meat or dairy products (including eggs and fish) provided it is the appropriate texture for an infant

for when your baby is digestively ready to start solids:

Stage 1 (6-9 months)

At 6 months solid foods can be introduced but the weaning process should not be hurried if baby is content with breast milk alone. Pay attention to the signals baby gives out e.g. baby will probably be ready for solid food if they cry after breast-feedings or chew on the nipple. Even then, breastfeeding should be continued (alongside the introduction of solids) for as long as is comfortable for mother and baby.

The best time to introduce solid foods to baby is just before breast or bottle-feeding. Starting solids is a very gradual process so be patient and go slowly. The classic 'first food' is mashed banana, which is very digestible, sweet and a good introduction to foods. Suitable first foods are baby rice or pureed vegetables. Fruits are usually introduced after vegetables in order to allow acceptance of vegetables before the sweet tastes of fruits is experienced. Other popular first foods are carrot, sweet potatoes, parsnip, apples, bananas and pears. When they have had enough babies will turn away their head, clamp their mouth shut or spit the food out! These are signs that they have had enough.

When introducing solids to baby offer one type of food only and then observe how well it is tolerated. Start with around 1-2 tsp of food and gradually increase up to 6 tsp. How is fed to baby depends entirely on how much they will eat. A rough guide might be a quarter of a very ripe mushy banana for a few days (or for a week) and the following week another soft fruit such as apple sauce. This gives the baby's digestive system time to get used to each new food before the introduction of additional ones. If two or more foods are introduced at the same time and baby has diarrhoea, colic or other digestive problems, it will be difficult to identify the culprit. The foods during this first stage should be bland with a smooth consistency.

If the baby is not interested the first few times solids are introduced it is advised to try again in another week. When baby is ready they will let you know. Baby might be hungry at any time of the day or night. Babies cannot tell the time but they know what they need.

Prepare cooked vegetables plainly, do not add salt, sugar or spices. Good introductory vegetables are parsnips, sweet potatoes, yams and carrots. Still start feeds with breast or bottle but now very gradually increase the amount of solid food given afterwards. Solids should only be given by spoon or hand and never added to a bottle of feed.

Typical feed for one day at stage 1 (6-9 months)

* 1st feed - breast or bottle

* 2nd feed - breast or bottle

* 3rd feed - 1-2 tsp baby rice mixed with 1 tbs milk from feed or 1-2 tsp unsweetened fruit puree

* 4th feed - breast or bottle

* 5th feed - breast or bottle

Answer 2

Sorry to the nutritionist above me, but I disagree.  My 15 month old has been picky from day 1, and still is.  She was breastfed, and the Pediatrician told me that breastfed babies commonly aren't interested in food.  I introduced veggies first and she hated them.  I have introduced all kinds of things to her, and she's not interested at all.  Add to this problem the fact that she is small and has had issues with weight gain--the Dr. told me to just give her whatever she would eat.  15 months old, and her diet still consists mostly of puree'd fruits.  My mother recently sent my a link to an article about picky eaters.  A study has found it to be linked to genetics.  Wish I had more information for you.  I feel your pain--Good luck!

Answer 3

I had massive problems with getting my 3 month old son to sleep.  He would just lie awake and cry for hours, then when he finally went to sleep he would wake every hour or two hours through the night and cry again!  Talk about pulling our hair out .... we were absolutely desperate for sleep!

It was a baby sleep audio program recommended by a friend that finally saved us. We followed the advice and began by creating a baby sleep routine which included bathtime, dimming of the lights, putting Paul into his crib, final nappy change and then lullabies. We also made recommended changes to his naps during the day and used some of the other recommended techniques. Within two weeks he was sleeping through the night most nights with just the odd night where he would just wake once!

Definitely start by creating a good baby sleep routine though and you could find that solves most of your baby sleep problems.

Good luck!

If you want to take a look, the audio program is at http://www.babysleepsolution.com

Answer 4

my son wasnt really interseted in foods until about 9 months- he never liked mashed foodds too much. istend of mashing table foods, why dont you give him soft table foodds, like softe fruits, steamed veggies, and soft meat like chicken and turkey?- they dodnt need teeth to chew

Answer 5

My 8 month old is a picky eater, not to that extent tho.  She will not eat greens, but she loves carrots and fruits.  I usually have to mix any veggies she won't eat with carrots in order for her to eat.  I also mix fruits in with the ceral in the morning.   I believe an 8 month old CAN be a picky eater.