WHy won't my 7.5 month old daughter eat pureed vegetables anymore?

Question

She's been eating pureed vegetables since she's been 5.5 months old (it was okayed by the doctor). She doesn't like the stage 2 mixed jars of baby food, or even the beginer mixed jars of baby food..so she always just ate the vegetables and then some fruit. Never had a problem.

At Around 7 months old, we slowly started to give her little bits of what we eat, because she was always reaching for my plate during dinner time. She loves to feed herself, and since we don't have any allergies I wasn't too worried about that. She chews very well and her hand to mouth coordination is getting really good. Of course i make sure the pieces are small and really gummable..and she is still on formula.

My problem is, that before the "foods we eat" were just in addition to her 3-4 tbsp of purreed vegetables + 2 tbsp of fruit that she ate for lunch and supper. The past two weeks she's been getting more of 'our food' that she can chew herself, and if she has already eaten, when we eat and she tries to grab our food i give her a Mum Mum cracker or some gerber puffs, and she just loves that. But in the past week, she is refusing to eat the pureed vegetables, she has a couple bites, and then opens her mouth, but when the spoon goes close to her mouth she wants nothing to do with it, she grabs the spoon and flings the food everywhere. If I give her something that she can eat herself, she will eat it, and be the happiest little girl.

Should I just start giving her foods that she can feed herself and skip the pureed stuff, i'm wasting so much, most of it ends up in the garbage. And if so, what vegetables are good to cook that she can have in small pieces (she doesn't like broccoli..)

She loves cheese, cheese curds (cut in smaller pieces) pieces of chicken, fish, beef, ground beef, whole wheat toast, potatoes, yogourt, watermelon, egg yolk (and on saturday i gave her two pieces of my scrambled egg, the whole thing, and she loved it, and no reaction), ..and she will still eat her pureed fruit if you give that to her.

I tried mashing potatoes and stuff like that, but she doesn't like it mashed, she gags, she would prefer to chew (or gum it I should say) herself, she does so well that way. (Of course, I don't leave her high chair and i am steady watching her while she eats).

The other thing that I should mention is that she's also been teething for the past two weeks, she's been up lots during the night, which is not like her at all, and she cries while holding her four fingers down on her botton gums, so I know that she might be refusing to eat because she is teething, but if i give her something that she can feed herself, she will eat it.

In addition as well, she is also still getting 3-4 8 ounce bottles a day (so 24-32 ounces of formula a day) once in a while if she doesn't eat much she might drink up to five bottles. And she gets water with her meals.

Thank you for your advice..

Answer 1

She's just turned a developmental corner.  This is what baby-led weaning is all about - the kids have an important say in what and how they eat.  There is nothing wrong with her eating your foods, as long as you keep an eye on her nutrition.  My son was about 1 year when he started refusing any "baby food" and now, a few months later, the only thing he will let us feed him is yogurt.  The rest he has to do himself.  Have fun with exposing your daughter to new (but easy-to-chew) foods!

Answer 2

She got a taste of "real food" and now she won't eat her own food.  It's a natural progression.  I would take it and run with it.  You should make your food healthier so that you don't feel bad about her only eating what you're eating.  My son started refusing certain foods around that time,and the past few months, he won't eat anything unless he can pick it up himself.  I think she's just growing and her taste is changing, so make your life easier and just start giving her "real food"

Answer 3

Two things are going on here.

1. Pureed food has no texture. It's bland and disgusting to us adults. Why do we expect our children to settle for it? Be glad. It means your daughter is maturing.

2. Independence is what defines us as humans. It's what we give up last, kicking and screaming as we approach the end of our lives (Ever tried to take the car keys from a senior?). How would you like going to a restaurant and having the waiter spoon feed you? Again, this is something to get excited about because your daughter is showing signs of maturing. She wants to feed herself so, by all means, encourage her to do so. Sorry about the mess she'll make but what's that worth to watch her grow?

Answer 4

OK...quick answer...Yes, give her *real* food, and cut out the purees.  She is showing you rather well I might add : ) that she wants real food.  Keep up  with what you are giving her.  Offer her fresh fruits...there are many in season that are soft.

As far as veggies, steam or roast sweet potatoes, squash (both summer or winter) carrots, etc.  Asparagus is also a good one.  Try green beans and peas.  I wouldn't give corn...they are hard to digest, and they come out as they go in  :)

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 5

maybe she doesn't like them and you should change the food

Answer 6

Once my daughter tried "real food" she wouldn't eat the pureed foods either. She would never eat pureed green beans but she loves the "real" ones. She also likes carrots and peas.

Answer 7

yeah she probably just wants to feed herself.  you can steam ANY vegetable and give it to her (asparagus, zucchini, squash, green peas, green beans, corn, etc)

a favorite veggie of my son is baked cinnamon carrots

with potatoes you could try giving her little chunks of boiled or steamed potatoes rather than mashed (my son is not too fond of white potatoes unless they have a lot of spices like parsley, mustard, etc in them), but he LOVES sweet potatoes.

you don't have to puree fruit either.  you can give her chunks of ripe peach, banana, apple or pear (i would steam or bake these), blueberries cut in half or quarters, etc.

a great breakfast food they can feed themselves: whole wheat pancakes with blueberries and bananas mixed in them (you could use any fruit you want).  i make the pancakes and put a layer of applesauce on top (so they are not so dry ad he loves applesauce) and cut them in chunks.  he just picks it up and feeds himself and LOVES it!

otherwise i usually just give him some of what we are having for dinner (i try to separate his before i add salt) and he loves everything from enchiladas to fish to pasta)

good luck

Answer 8

the more of "our food" they get their lil hands on....the less of theirs they want!!! once they get the taste of it, they like the challenge of eating, and being praised when eating big kid food, and they like the new textures.....good luck!!