9 Month Old Eating

Some babies (like mine - also 9 months old) really just like to feed themselves, so try to give him a bunch of foods he can pick up and eat by himself -soft cooked pieces of carrots, sweet potatoes, banana, pears, cheese bits, small pieces of bread, etc - good luck!

First of all, great job for still nursing! Unless you have a specific reason to cut back on nursing I highly reccomend that you keep up the nursing (especially during the winter months)This is a very criical age as he is preparing to walk and talk. Nursing gaurantees he is getting the nutrition but more importantly it is giving him security. Nursing at this age seems to help the transition to more independence with less tantrums and less tears. Before you know it, he'll be running around and you'll so miss the days that you had those few moments of cuddling while he nursed. If he stays nursing like you are now, you don't need to worry about what else he eats. Let him eat for fun. He will be more likely to eat a variety of foods when he is older and will be less likely to have food allergies. So, my big advice ....keep nursing until he weans himself, you will be so happy did!

There's really no need to rush the solids. He seems to prefer the breast still - and even nursing every 2-3 hours is fine. He knows when he's hungry and schedules don't work for babies. Some days they are growing a lot and using more energy. With my first I dutifully did solids and had all those jars to wash and mess with. With my other three, I just nursed them until they wanted food. How did I know they wanted food? They grabbed it off my plate and tried to eat it! I was so happy to avoid bottles and jars. Also I was very selective with solids, so as to not trigger food allergies. I introduced just one food at a time and at least a week apart, and only the 10 least allergenic foods first.

You're breastfeeding schudule is PERFECT! Do nothing about that. As far as the solids go, he will eat when he's hungry. Maybe he just wants to feed himself so try putting little bites of food on his tray and see what he does. He can have anything that is soft and easy for him to chew (even if he doesn't have teeth he can gum it). Try not to give him fruit while right now because he will aquire the taste of the sweetness and not want anything that isn't sweet. You are doing great and I am personally very proud that you are breastfeeding so long. You are doing a great job for you baby!

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it's great to nurse him after he eats solids. you can see if he'll take 1-2 teaspoons more of solids at each feeding. or try incorporating 3 solids feedings and nursing sessions after with snacks before naps. if he gets most of the nutrition he needs during the day, he might sleep longer at night.

Hi, T.,
Congrads on breastfeeding your children! It seems if u r breastfeeding every 2-3 hours, your son is more likely too full to want to eat much solid food. As u said, trying to lessen the amt. Of breastfeeding is your choice. The less u b.f., the more solids he will want. But solids are still wierd for a nine month old, & as long as he is still b.f. That often, he is getting all he really needs diet wise. Maybe u could offer him juices, water, etc. Instead of a breast once or twice a day for a week, then if that seems to work, gradually add more solids. Good luck, Mommy!

hey tabitha -- I think you needn't worry. My baby was not at all interested in ANY solid food til 10 months old no matter
how often I offered. I just kept breastfeeding -- which is so so healthy for them, I figure the more breastmilk they get, the better their immune system will be! Now, she's 11 months and just really getting into food! Good luck! K.

I wouldn't worry too much, my son was the same way. When I tried to feed him he would either sit in the high chair and cry or just refuse to open his mouth... and then he would nurse every two hours, even through the night. He always ate happily for my mom who came up to see us about twice a week, so I think he just knew that I had something better to offer than jarred food ;) I just let him keep nursing and then started offering a few finger foods.... guess what? He ate. He wanted to do it all by himself! So he would nibble on fruits and veggies and plain noodles throughout the day, and still nursed more often than his pediatrician thought he should be. But he weaned himself at 19 months and now at three years old eats normal food and is a very healthy active guy who finally sleeps through the night :) Just follow his cues, he'll let you know when he's ready to move on.

I have a 1 year old and he was pretty picky with his green veggies, he liked squash, carrots, & sweet potatoes just fine. I really wanted him to get all varieties so I would add the vegetables to his oatmeal, and then mix it with apple juice to make it a little bit sweet & he would eat everything I fixed. I warmed it up a little bit and even added cinnamon to the mixture sometimes. You just have to get creative!! Our pediatrician told us that they still get most of their nutrients from their milk, breast or formula, the solid feedings are just to get used to texture, and flavors. Keep trying different things, eventually you'll find something your 9 month old will tolerate.

Keep introducing the food, because it takes 17 exposures for a baby to decide if he likes something or not. Most parents give up and that makes for picky eaters. One of my friends sons is over who is a very picky eater, and it is a pain. (He's 7, but still.) My kids like lots of food, and it makes life a lot easier. I have heard horror stories of moms making 2 and 3 different meals to accomodate their picky eaters. I don't know about you, but I don't have the time or inclination for that. It does seem like he is still breastfeeding pretty often for his age...It sounds like twice a day with solids is good for this age. I wouldn't worry about it too much, because around a year most of their nutrition should come from food. My pediatrician always recommends stopping bottles/breastfeeding around a year and switching to sippy cup milk. I have done this three times (breastfed a year, then moved to cow's milk in a sippy cup) and it has been fabulous for all my kids. They all began eating whatever was for dinner when they were a year ( I make one meal for everyone) and now are all great non-picky eaters. We don't even buy "kid food" like mac and cheese or chicken nuggets because we don't want an escape hatch...Good luck.

hello there,
well,its typical of a young child to go through eating strikes...it has happened with my daughter (now 15months) and with both my nieces.if he's teething or going through a growth spurt,or just feeling more needy due to all the changes he will go back to wanting to nurse more and eat solids less.my daughter still doesnt always want to eat solid food,and doesnt care for baby food...she always wants to eat what we eat...she still nurses every three hours or so,although she'd like to more often but im having to put my foot down or she wont eat anything else...try cheerios from the natural food store...the dissolve quickly and so even if he doesnt have many teeth he will be bale to mash them...thats what really turned my daughter on to solids...and still she will take cheerios over almost anything else.just be patient and remember,strikes are normal and they will pass...just be persistent,which i know can be hard since its easier to just nurse sometimes (ok,a lot of the time) but whn he gets hungry enough he will want more than just milk and when that happens,you will be ready for him:) bananas are great too,my daughter absolutely loves them...theyre sweet so they are easier to get them to eat.
hope this helps,
A.

At 9 months, we worked with our daughter on finger foods and self-feeding, starting with Gerber "puffs" and them moving to finger food versions of fruits, veggies and protein. She really liked to do it herself once she figured it out. Maybe he'll take to it if it's something he can do for himself? That was also the time that we introduced protein (tofu cubes, ground turkey, egg yolks) and dairy (yogurt, cottage cheese). Ours LOVES dairy foods and they serve much of the same needs as breastmilk so it may help you to cut back a bit on nursing as well... if he'll eat it, right?!

Dr Sears has great advice in his books and on the website askdrsears.com
The best thing you can do is nurse your son. He is getting everything he needs from your breastmilk. When he feels like venturing back to foods again he will let you know, don't worry! Just make sure you take care of yourself!!!

If your son loves oatmeal so much (or any ther kind o the baby cereals,) try to mix about an 1/8 of a cup o baby food in with his cereal. it will introduce him to the flavor (diLUTED)AND IT WON'T BE AS BIG OF A SHOCK WHEN HE ACTUALLY TRIES IT ALONE. kEEP THE FEEDING TIMES NORMAL AND THE TEXTURE OF THE CEREAL THE NORMAL CINSISTENCY HE[S USED TO.hoPE THIS HELPS.

Hey T....I am going to agree with all those moms who are saying to KEEP ON BREASTFEEDING!! It is the absolute #1 best thing you can do/provide for your baby. Baby's primary nutritional source should be breastmik until age 1, says the AAP & the World Health Org (and Dr Sears, and Dr Newman etc). Solids at this point are only to get baby used to difft textures and tastes. Even the "tastes" thing isnt a big deal b/c baby has been getting difft tastes all along thru your milk. Early solids introduction (and the weight charts, and the immunization sched.s etc etc!!!) was designed for formula babies, b/c formula does not provide anything close to what breastmilk does. Bmilk is crazy stuff...iron absorption is 50-70% from bmilk, versus 4-10% from the fortified cereals, just for example. My little boy is 9 1/2 months old, and i had to go with my gut on this one, and keep the feeds that some people said were "too often"!!
(approx times!!!...)
7am wake up
7:15 nurse
8 breakfast
9:15 nurse (then nap)
11 nurse
11:30 offer small amount of solids (little avocado cubes)
1:45 nurse (then nap)
4 nurse
5 dinner
6:45 nurse
7 dinner
(**bfast & dinner are blueberry 1/2's, boiled yam cubes, avocado cubes for him to feed himself [or wear! lol!] and 1Tbsp organic oatmeal with a couple spoons of mashed yam & peach...i do not care if he eats all the oatmeal!!)
With this routine, I know in my gut that I have "offered" my baby breastmilk b4 the solids. I had been expressing into the oatmeal, but then i thought, "ok i have to cram all this stuff into his mouth for him to get the breastmilk, even if he isnt hungry!" and that is just NOT the blueprint I wanted to make for my son's digestive system. "Stuffing" does not do baby any favours, as it leans towards obesity in later life. I wanted to help my baby be lean, and as Dr Sears says: "lean means having the right % of body fat for your individual body type"(..not to be confused with skinny!) as obesity has now reached epidemic proportions!!! Every step with solids is a step towards weaning, and we all know that baby's who are breastfed until age 2 (also recommended by WHO) are at a huge advantage across the board. Mentally they are getting a head start, and physically they are at a ridiculous advantage. It is a time for our babies to cuddle and bond with their absolute favourite person in the whole world...how crazy is that?!! I, for one, have decided to stop stressing about solids and the eternal question 'is he getting enuf' until my little boy is 1. He is happy, healthy, hitting all the developmental milestones, has strong attachments to "his people" and is totally content. Also I will say that i have read in a bunch of places that children will "cycle" thru foods...ie, like something one week and hate it the next. Please dont worry about your boy being picky at this point...he is just finding his feet. And please give yourself a GIGANTIC pat on the back for what you are giving your son!! Way to go!!!

I have a 9 1/2 month old girl. I now bottle feed her 5, 6 ounce bottles a day. In the morning before her nap, I will feed her baby yogurt or fruit mixed with oatmeal.I also make french toast once in a while (yolk only!!) Sometimes I will throw some veggies on her highchair just for the heck of it. Then anywhere from 1:00-2:00 I'll give her the veggies again on the highchair, but this time I will feed them to her in between the times she picks them up herself and puts them in her mouth. Sometimes I will make a grilled cheese sandwich and give her tiny, tiny pieces of it. I haven't given her meat yet. Oh by the way, she will NOT eat veggies in the baby food containers. Only if it is cubed in tiny pieces and she can pick them up herself. Avocado is also VERY healthy for babies. I would try putting boiled veggies in front of him and let him go to town!!! They love the independence.
Good luck!

Hi ! Most foods are processed foods , everything in a glas or can is not natural anymore ....I believe the baby can FEEL that there is something " fishy " with that " food" .... I gave my babies only organic solid foods , there is a big difference in the vibration and also in the taste ....
hope that helps ....
LOVE
N.

Sounds like he is ready to eat more solids but not so close together.

My DD is 9 months old and this is what she eats.

730 am: 2 Stage 2 jars of solids and 4 ounces of formula
830am: 4 ounces of formula
9-11am nap
1130-am 1 to2 jars of stage 2 food.
1230pm: 6-8 ounces of formula
1-3 nap
330: 6 ounces of formula
530pm: 2 stage 2 jars and 4 ounces of formula.
6pm: 4-6 ounces of formula, then bedtime.

But she has to be good and hungry to eat before she will open her mouth. So if she isn't hungry, I just wait about half an hour and try again. She is usually ready to eat by then.

Sounds like your little guy is growing and needs more calories, so he breastfeeds more, but when you are trying to feed him the solids, he is already full on breastmilk. Or maybe he just prefers Mommy over solids right now. Have you talked with your pediatrician about supplementing some formula along with your breastfeeding? I know when my DS was going through his growth spurts as an infant he would chug down tons of formula AND still eat a lot of solids. Guess that's foresight into his future eating habits as a teenager :D!

S.

Hi T.,
I have almost a nine month old boy as well, and until now, he's been eating solids only twice a day as well and the rest of the time formula. I was reading somethere that babys get all their nutrition in breastmilk or formula until one years old and solid are introduced more for the practice. So I wouldn't worry if he is growing healthy and in his normal growth charts. My son doesn't really like the veggies or meat from the jar, so just recently I started to cook them myself. I just boil different veggies with some ground chicken or turkey until everything is very soft and then blend everything well and my baby absolutely loved it. It's very easy to make, it's fresh and you can freeze the leftovers. Good luck.