7 Month Old Gags With Food, Advice Please!

[Sprouts]

I have a 7 month old who has not eaten any solids yet! Her mom tells me she loves to chew on pizza crust, but when we try to feed her food she will just gag and spit it out. I have given her mandarins in the nets and she will just **** on them, but will not eat food.

Any ideas or advice????:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[AnneCordelia]

I'd wait. Solids in the first year are for practice and to develop a taste for food...her nutrition should still be coming from breastmilk or formula at that age and food should be a fun extra, IMO.

Personally, I'm like Nanny...I don't offer solids until they are at least 8 or 9 months. Their parents can get them to use a spoon at home by offering baby cereal at breakfast and by offering veggies/cereal at dinner. A 7mo does not need 3 meals a day if they are still taking at least 24oz of formula, which is the minimum recommendation for that age group.

[nannyde]

I wouldn't feed her anything yet. Just let mom know that she needs to get her onto baby food at home before you attempt it.

If they are skipping baby food puree and going straight to food you are going to have a LOT of problems. They need PUREED food first... then gradually to solids.

Tell the Mom she needs to spoon train her and let you know when she has managed all the veggies. Once she eats the veggies you can add the cereals and fruits.

[laundrymom]

Stick to bottles 4 more weeks and try again. Don't stress over it. Food prior to one year is experimentation anyway. I don't OFFER CEREAL until 8 months and don't offer citrus before 12 mo.

Why are you so rushed to give solids? I can't believe they are feeding pizza crust to an infant for its " nutrition". Texture experimentation, grasp reflex & small motor maybe but to say they give it for food? That blows my mind.

[nannyde]

Stick to bottles 4 more weeks and try again. Don't stress over it. Food prior to one year is experimentation anyway. I don't OFFER CEREAL until 8 months and don't offer citrus before 12 mo.

Why are you so rushed to give solids? I can't believe they are feeding pizza crust to an infant for its " nutrition". Texture experimentation, grasp reflex & small motor maybe but to say they give it for food? That blows my mind.

I think it's becoming a lot more common because baby food is SO expensive. I think it's more common to give adult food (mostly carbs and sweets) then it is to make your own home made food.

It's SO easy to make home made baby food. I wish people would be more willing to do it. It's excellent nutrition and such an easy way to get more variety and make the conistency perfect for the baby.

[youretooloud]

I think it's a regional thing. But, around here, we skip the baby foods, and by 8 months, they are feeding themselves table food. (most of it doesn't make it in their mouth) and by 12 months, they are eating mostly what the kids eat.

The few kids who have started on the baby food had those organic pouch food with the spout and spoon built in.

I'd offer her the big finger foods that are either too big to bite off of, or mushed up foods that she can put in her own mouth.

I would avoid those biter biscuits from Gerber... they are awesome when a child is very young and can't bite it...but, at this age, she could bite off a piece.

[youretooloud]

It's SO easy to make home made baby food. I wish people would be more willing to do it. It's excellent nutrition and such an easy way to get more variety and make the conistency perfect for the baby.

They even sell that baby bullet in Target now. I think it's about $40. It's adorable too.

I have an old fashion baby food grinder that cost less than $12.

[laundrymom]

I think it's becoming a lot more common because baby food is SO expensive. I think it's more common to give adult food (mostly carbs and sweets) then it is to make your own home made food.

It's SO easy to make home made baby food. I wish people would be more willing to do it. It's excellent nutrition and such an easy way to get more variety and make the conistency perfect for the baby.

Well OMG!!! You mean children cost cash???
I get so tired of people using that excuse with me,... Nan I know what you mean exactly. I feed 10 children 3 meals 5 days a week. And I don't give fast food, hot dogs, lunch meat, or juice. I spend serious money to give them serious food. Not just for nutrition but also for expanding their world and including different regions and cultures in meal planning.

I wish people thought ahead about this. I KNOW kids are expensive. I have four of them. I know how much they cost. But I also am not one to use that as an excuse to give them sub quality nutrition. It was my choice to have them and it's my obligation to care for them.

I'm sure the op is just trying to make parents happy and I'm sorry to hijack thread. I'll go do dishes now. Lol. I'm off today.

[Sprouts]

Stick to bottles 4 more weeks and try again. Don't stress over it. Food prior to one year is experimentation anyway. I don't OFFER CEREAL until 8 months and don't offer citrus before 12 mo.

Why are you so rushed to give solids? I can't believe they are feeding pizza crust to an infant for its " nutrition". Texture experimentation, grasp reflex & small motor maybe but to say they give it for food? That blows my mind.

oops, they don't FEED her pizza for nutrition, she is teething so she was chewing on it, i just found that interesting because she wouldn't gag on that, but I guess since she is teething.

But thank you for all of the input, I will relay all of the information to the family.

Also I think they feel rushed to feed because of "society" everyone is surprised she is not eating yet, even MY mother in law is telling me "oh no she has to eat, you have to feed her" (hispanic background, the idea is to FEED FEED FEED) ....also when she asked me when my children started to eat i told her, my son first ate at 3.5 months and my daughter at 5 months so she might feel like thats the norm.

Anyways THANK YOU ALL ....you guys are awesome

[Sprouts]

I think it's becoming a lot more common because baby food is SO expensive. I think it's more common to give adult food (mostly carbs and sweets) then it is to make your own home made food.

It's SO easy to make home made baby food. I wish people would be more willing to do it. It's excellent nutrition and such an easy way to get more variety and make the conistency perfect for the baby.

And in defense of mom she actually has a whole freezer full of organic pureed veggies waiting for baby She let her chew on it because she just grabbed it and shoved in her mouth...teething

But thank you Nanny....I actually saw your website and I like the idea on making families watch documentaries....I am thinking of going organic as well....

[nannyde]

Are you sure you didn't get stuck with nipples that were given to her for free? Ask her to bring you THREE used nipples from home.

If she says she uses them at home then she needs to come and feed the baby in front of you so you can see how she does it with the equipment she brings you.

Make sure you give him three hours with no bottle before she comes and have her show you.

An hour to feed the baby is rediculous. With fussing in that ... whatever you give him is going to be used up in crying calories.

[Unregistered]

I have a 7 month old who has not eaten any solids yet! Her mom tells me she loves to chew on pizza crust, but when we try to feed her food she will just gag and spit it out. I have given her mandarins in the nets and she will just **** on them, but will not eat food.

Any ideas or advice????:confused::confused::confused::confused:

WIC actually recommends you start baby food at 6 months old they even supply it to the infants on WIC. I think 6 months is a good time to start. She may just have a bad gag reflex my oldest did he would gag on baby food when I first started him on it it took a few weeks then he wouldnt even eat table food til 13 months old where as my other where eating table food at 9 months.