[avsfan]

My daughter is just over 8 months old. I have BF her exclusively and she has grown just fine (I think I produce straight cream). Anyhow, she is not interested in food at all! Gerber baby food, home-made baby food, or any! And if I give her anything with texture, she just gags it. She really just wants to nurse. I am FINE with nursing her, as I still produce a lot of milk, but I wondered if that's okay that she's not eating solids...occasionally I can get her to eat 1-2 tablespoons of rice cereal/milk, but she certainly doesn't "gobble" it up. Have any of you had babies that didn't like "food"?

[mollymae]

Till 12 months BM can provide all the nutricien your baby needs but weaning is all about them learning to except food in another way. Other than baby rice have you tried anything else like fruit of pureed veggies? One of mine hated babyrice but loved veggies. Perhaps have her sat up to the table whilst you eat so its more of a social thing and offer bits of your plates. Once shes up and more mobile she probably won't want to be BFing so much, usually they want to be off exploring so maybe then she'll become more interested in solid food.

Try not to worry.

[pattiewrites]

It's completely fine. My second baby didn't eat ANY baby food at all until she was nearly ten months old. I was very nervous about it and even asked the doctor. He said they don't need food, as long as they are breastfed until after they turn a year old. She basically went right to table food. She never liked the rice cereal. I've been reading lately that rice isn't the best first food. Try fruits like banana or avocado. My daughter liked when I mashed a banana and I think that's what she ate first. She is now six years old and is a very good eater, so don't worry about it. They eat when they are ready. If she really doesn't want it, stop trying for a week or two. Try again and see if she is ready.

[twinzplus3]

One of my kids was/is totally like this! The common advice for starting solids totally WAS NOT for her and made the problem worse. Would you mind if I blog on this?

[KeeperAtHome]

Baby's can be exclusively breastfeed for the first year of life. If she is growing normally there is no need to worry. The only concern might be that iron production in breast milk goes down after about six months. If your baby seems a little more tired than usual, consider an iron supplement (this is advice per my M.D.).
Good for you for being willing to nurse an eight-month-old exclusively

[avsfan]

Originally Posted by KeeperAtHome

Baby's can be exclusively breastfeed for the first year of life. If she is growing normally there is no need to worry. The only concern might be that iron production in breast milk goes down after about six months. If your baby seems a little more tired than usual, consider an iron supplement (this is advice per my M.D.).
Good for you for being willing to nurse an eight-month-old exclusively

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. Sometimes some validation is just what I need!
I appreciate your last sentence, too. Not many understand what that requires!

I won't worry that I'm doing anything wrong then. She is growing fine and seems to be happy. I'll keep the iron issue in mind, too.

THANKS!

[breastisbestaz]

Originally Posted by avsfan

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it. Sometimes some validation is just what I need!
I appreciate your last sentence, too. Not many understand what that requires!

I won't worry that I'm doing anything wrong then. She is growing fine and seems to be happy. I'll keep the iron issue in mind, too.

THANKS!

I thought the comment about the amount of iron in breastmilk was interesting. I've spent many years breastfeeding my little ones and working in pharmacy, and recently changed pediatricians because of this issue. My youngest also dislikes solids, and threw me for a loop when she started refusing the baby food I've been making for her. The old pediatrician told me to push fortified cereal and wanted me to give a supplement. I refused that idea and switched docs (especially since my 8 month old is almost 21 pounds).
When giving an iron supplement keep in mind the different types of iron. Hem and Non-Hem iron. Hem iron is whats found in breastmilk and meat. It is found to be more absorbable (at almost 100% absobability) than Non-Hem iron. Non-Hem iron is in fortified cereal and vitamin supplements, and is usually what causes constipation. When an iron supplement (Non-Hem iron) is given in addition to breastfeeding the Non-Hem iron can binde with the more absorbable Hem iron which causes the Hem iron to then become less absorbable. This in turn can cause constipation and anemia. In addition there are bacteria in the intestinal tract that feed on Non-Hem (supplemental) iron and can get out of control, and cause illness.

[Swimkidsmom3]

I bf all 3 of my kids and the middle one didn't want solids either. He would eat a few bites of cereal at 8 months but that was pretty much it. I remember thinking that he was never going to eat anything but breastmilk. Once he really discovered solid food there was no stopping him. He loved to eat and still does. Don't worry, enjoy this time. It will be over before you know it and then you'll be saying "I remember when..."

[BookwormMama]

I have been trying to decide when to start giving my nearly seven-months-old daughter solids. The books (and my doctor) say that we should start giving her solids ASAP because of iron, but I have read that in some other cultures babies are exclusively breastfed for a year. T or F about the iron?

[twinzplus3]

I say false. I tend to think that if it was something babies need--breasts would make it. In many places, nursing is common until well after a year (or more). Where did we get the notion that our bodies were designed to make this food that is deficient and somehow needs help when the truth is, that is was sufficient until they started making formula? It flies in the face of human evolution if you believe that, and just doesn't make sense.