I can't get my son to eat solids.

[MommyToConnor]

My son is almost 17 months old. He eats mostly baby food. He will eat crackers, cookies and little puffs. We're just starting to get him to eat canned veggies and fruits. However, we've just been having so much trouble getting him to drink from his sippy cup, eat the canned fruits and veggies and eat meat.

Does anyone have any suggestions/input? Any recipes? Any ideas on how to get him totally off of baby food? Thanks!

[MommyToConnor]

So you people can open up this thread and read it but not answer it? I'm a mom in need of advice.

What is it about most of the people on this site? Everybody will reply to everybody's questions but mine. Why is that?

[GreenPixie]

I was one of those people who would have just opened you thread and not replied if not for your second post. Why is that? Because my baby is not due until may so I have no idea what to feed a picky toddler. Bearing in mind I have no idea what I'm talking about you said caned fruits and vegetables, have you tried fresh fruits and vegetables? The texture, taste, and even the smell of caned fruits and vegetables have always been disgusting to me even when I was very little (or so say my parents). Also the internet is full of sites about getting your toddler to eat, just goggle it. And finally your second post was a little abrasive. People generally would rather help someone who is nice to them. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I know you were looking for advice from people who have been there done that. Maybe this will help get the thread rolling again.

[kare.bear]

I agree, your second post is pretty abrasive. Why not give people the benefit of the doubt? Perhaps they don't have any advise to give...

My DD is only 9 mo, but I'll take a crack at it...Stop offering the baby food then he has to eat other things. Offer him what you're eating. He's old enough that sharing food from Mommy's plate may seem more adventurous than the boring stuff on his... If he doesn't like a sippy cup, then serve him water in a bottle or a regular cup with you helping him. Or give him a straw...He doesn't HAVE to like a sippy cup. What did mothers do before sippy cups? They held a regular cup up to their babies' mouths and helped them drink...

[mbenit4]

At 17 months old. He is too old for baby food. Stop giving it to him. He should be able to eat what you eat just make sure you cut it up very small. He will eat and will not starve himself.

You can try some Gerber graduates if you have no idea but he can eat what you are eating.

[Kristen.Mabry]

I am guilty of opening it and then not leaving a reply the first time simply because I am in the same boat and was hoping to feed off the advice given to you.

My son is only 15 months but I still know exactly what you mean.

[cricket123]

Believe me, I totally understand. My son is 24 months old and has absolutely no interest what so ever in solid foods. When he was about 1 1/2, I tried giving him a sliver of mashed potatoes and he threw up. Granted he hadn't ate anything else just before that so it was mostly stomach acid that he lost. I think that it is a texture issue with my son. We've tried other foods with him but he's just not going to eat it. (My son is very strong willed.) I have talked with the doctor and he tells me that as long as you continue to offer the baby food, he will only want baby food. He said that you can try to incorporate the solids in with the baby food or just drop the baby food altogether. (I tried mixing solids in with the baby food only to have him quit eating it for that sitting.) If you do drop it, he may not eat for 2 or 3 days, however, in my son's case, he is in great health and his weight is appropriate so the doc says not to worry. YOU HAVE TO BE FIRM. I am on the way to completely stopping the baby food. We have almost ran out and he has made me waste more baby food than he's eating lately. He only wants bananas. Go figure!!! Anyway, as far as the sippy cups, I had the worst time with that also. Come to find out that a cup with a straw in it was the way to go. Save your money the doc says...it's only a marketing scheme. Hang in there, I know it's tough. This is my first son and I only want the best for him as I'm positive you only want the best for your son also. I hope some of this has helped not only you, but others that are in the same boat. Be sure if you have any questions, contact your doctor.

[illudrae]

My daughter just hit 10 months and has been eating table food since 7 months...she's now completely on table food and sippy cups.

However, I will say she does not appear to be a typical case for babies...I am a new mom, and that's what people tell me. I had her on baby food for about a month, mostly because once she discovered regular food, all she wanted was to feed herself.

You might try eating your dinner in front of your son and offering him a bite or two off of your fork. My daughter was just thrilled when I fed her off my fork...although it did result in Mommy going on the hungry baby diet, cause whenever I went to take a bite of my dinner, she'd look at me like, "Why are you eating MY dinner?!"

*sigh* I need to lose a few pounds anyway, LOL.

Offer him fun food he can make a mess with...eventually he'll go from playing with it to putting it in his mouth and may discover it's actually tasty. I would stop offering baby food...or just puree what you're eating for dinner to get him used to different flavors...I've noticed a lot of baby food has little variety, and he may be attached to familiar flavors versus the consistency.

[rachelmilton2002]

Hi Mommy to Conner,
I understand what you are going through! My daughter did the same thing, surviving from age 2 to 3 on drinkable foods. She didn't gain any weight during that time adn we had a big problem on our hands.

First, keep offering the food with no pressure to eat it! Make it fun and a thing you do together. Sit with him. Eat with him. Let him see you chew. If a child is having trouble chewing, and you may not even notice that this is a weak area for him, then watching you eat is VERY IMPORTANT!

If this persists I recommend getting an OT evaluation for feeding. He may not even need the therapy but the therapist can just give you some helpful hints and insight into what is going on.

In the meantime, check out www.choosychildren.com This is how I fed my daughter (and still do) healthy veggies before she was ready to eat them on her own. She is now able to eat carrots, broccoli and asparagus willingly.

Hope this was helpful
Rachel

[stepmom1]

Try to mash up regular food very well and then slowly change the consistency of it until you are at the full solid stage.