Getting my son to eat..

[Pres19]

I need help/advice..

My son, Eli is 9 1/2 months old. (Born 3 1/2 months early).
I've been trying for almost 4 months to get him to eat baby food but I'm having no luck.

I'm very worried and I don't know what else to do.

I've talked to his doctors and they are dead set on giving him a feeding tube because they say his brain bleed caused him to be "retarded" (hate that word and hate that they used it). They also said that because he couldn't sit or rollover. (He can now )

I understand he will be a bit slow because he was born so early. He should only be 6 months old.
But I don't see a need for a feeding tube.

They have been wrong so many times.
Yes I've gotten other opinions. But its like they don't even want to deal with it or try to help. They said I have 3-6 more months before they make their final decision about the feeding tube.

So I'm asking all the mommas and daddy's for help..
Any advice to get him eating would help me more than you'll ever know. I'd really appreciate any advice..

 

[psychomom]

hi, Pres, it's soooo good to see you and Eli

is this a weight gain issue or a nutrition issue as far as the docs are concerned?

i agree his early birth will cause delays he wouldn't have had he been born at his due date,
and i agree with, "Look what the Lord has done!!"

if his weight gain and nutrition are fine at the moment, i think i'd put a pin in solids for a few weeks and try again.
kids tend to want to choose their own way in these things.
does he ever seem interested in what you're eating?

many, many blessings in Christ.

 

[Pres19]

hi, Pres, it's soooo good to see you and Eli

is this a weight gain issue or a nutrition issue as far as the docs are concerned?

i agree his early birth will cause delays he wouldn't have had he been born at his due date,
and i agree with, "Look what the Lord has done!!"

if his weight gain and nutrition are fine at the moment, i think i'd put a pin in solids for a few weeks and try again.
kids tend to want to choose their own way in these things.
does he ever seem interested in what you're eating?

many, many blessings in Christ.

Hello!
How have you been?

It's just nutrition they are worried about. He is 16Lbs / 27" so they say he is good on weight.

I can try that.

Oh yes every time I eat anything he watches me like crazy and crys for food. But if I try to feed him lets say mashed potatoes he won't eat them.

 

[psychomom]

Hello!
How have you been?

It's just nutrition they are worried about. He is 16Lbs / 27" so they say he is good on weight.

I can try that.

Oh yes every time I eat anything he watches me like crazy and crys for food. But if I try to feed him lets say mashed potatoes he won't eat them.

lol... typical little one

what if you ate what he should eat? (i know... yuk!)
it's such a new sensation for them, and even if you can get him to try it, you're making progress.
does he seem to be hungry?
my grandson is Eli's age, and my kids' pediatricians have this mantra: food before one is just for fun.
apparently the new way of thinking is babies get all the nutrition they need before their first birthdays from breast milk or formula?

it appears the docs can't be too worried about it if they're willing to put it off for months?
are they just giving him a chance to adapt to eating, do you know?

you're a wonderful momma and we serve an amazing God.
i will pray about this.

 

[Pres19]

lol... typical little one

what if you ate what he should eat? (i know... yuk!)
it's such a new sensation for them, and even if you can get him to try it, you're making progress.
does he seem to be hungry?
my grandson is Eli's age, and my kids' pediatricians have this mantra: food before one is just for fun.
apparently the new way of thinking is babies get all the nutrition they need before their first birthdays from breast milk or formula?

it appears the docs can't be too worried about it if they're willing to put it off for months?
are they just giving him a chance to adapt to eating, do you know?

you're a wonderful momma and we serve an amazing God.
i will pray about this.

He seems hungry all the time but only for a bottle.

They said we have that long because they are hoping he will learn how when he is 1 year adjusted.

Thank you I appreciate it.

 

[tenderhearted]

My son wasn't a fan of baby food, so by 7 months we started him on table food. He doesn't like anything mashed. We give him small pieces of food. He loves chicken and pasta. Texture is a big deal for some babies. My advice is to try different foods and cut them into very small pieces. At 7 months my son had no teeth, but he could mash food with his gums. My son is 11 months now and he eats so many different things. Give what I said a try. I don't think your son will need the feeding tube.

 

[psalm6819]

Have you tried mashed up banana? lotsa digestive issues with my youngest, she was not able to keep formula down the doctors at a loss. I called my gamma warren she recommended the bananas mashed with a wee bit of Apple juice. Worked like a charm.

Hungry baby, happy mom, thank God for grammas.

 

[jogoldie]

...my first baby was 2months preemie.....and 2 pounds..
I remember how the doctors told me she would be behind the other children
till she was in school years....well.....someone should have told her.....cause that
didnt happen at all......with Gods grace and love.....she was perfect....
my youngest hated babyfood....so I made my own.....start with veggies.....
carrots .....cook nicely....very soft.....i gave her what we ate..just cut small and
just handed it to her in her little hand.....you see....everything eventually makes it to their
mouth.....everything.....from fuzz on the floor to toys in their hands.....
years ago our mothers put rice baby cereal in the bottles mixed with formula..
the nipples need to be adjusted.....I even think they have feeding nipples....
as least then until feeding takes on....those bottles will fill the tummy....
dont let anyone tell you about your baby.....only you are an expert in that.....
dont rush your baby ....make feeding fun.....if your baby sits up put some
Smashed bananas on the tray of the highchair and see what he does....sit
in front of him and eat your half of the banana......he will love it.....prayng my sister...
Gods got this.....im sure......peace ..jo

 

[passing_through]

Just an idea, maybe a stupid one. What about adding Fructose in the baby food.

 

[jogoldie]

...my first baby was 2months preemie.....and 2 pounds..
I remember how the doctors told me she would be behind the other children
till she was in school years....well.....someone should have told her.....cause that
didnt happen at all......with Gods grace and love.....she was perfect....
my youngest hated babyfood....so I made my own.....start with veggies.....
carrots .....cook nicely....very soft.....i gave her what we ate..just cut small and
just handed it to her in her little hand.....you see....everything eventually makes it to their
mouth.....everything.....from fuzz on the floor to toys in their hands.....
years ago our mothers put rice baby cereal in the bottles mixed with formula..
the nipples need to be adjusted.....I even think they have feeding nipples....
as least then until feeding takes on....those bottles will fill the tummy....
dont let anyone tell you about your baby.....only you are an expert in that.....
dont rush your baby ....make feeding fun.....if your baby sits up put some
Smashed bananas on the tray of the highchair and see what he does....sit
in front of him and eat your half of the banana......he will love it.....prayng my sister...
Gods got this.....im sure......peace ..jo

Did I say ...her..sorry....I meant him.....got to many girls around this house.....

 

[Pres19]

Thanks everyone! I'll give it all a try. I hope if helps.
I really appreciate it everyone!!

 

[blondieindahouse]

Have you tried mashed up banana? lotsa digestive issues with my youngest, she was not able to keep formula down the doctors at a loss. I called my gamma warren she recommended the bananas mashed with a wee bit of Apple juice. Worked like a charm.

Hungry baby, happy mom, thank God for grammas.

Thats a great idea!
But I would add: not too many or too often. Bananas harden the stool and causes constipation. Thats the last thing you want. Since he isnt eating veggies to move it through his system more efficiently,its best to make it more liquidy as Psalm6819 suggested with apple juice.
Just my two cents............

 

[wwjd_kilden]

I assume the Dr's already checked whether there is something physical (that could cause him pain when eating)?

is it that he won't taste it or does he spit it out?
(maybe it has to do with constituency of the food. My family lets the youngest ones (that have gone past only milk) gnaw on bread when they are teething. They don't actually eat it of course as it is too hard for them, but maybe try it just to see if it interests him?

 

[Pres19]

Thats a great idea!
But I would add: not too many or too often. Bananas harden the stool and causes constipation. Thats the last thing you want. Since he isnt eating veggies to move it through his system more efficiently,its best to make it more liquidy as Psalm6819 suggested with apple juice.
Just my two cents............

Thanks for pointing that out.
He already suffers from constipation I don't wanna make it worse. :/

 

[Pres19]

I assume the Dr's already checked whether there is something physical (that could cause him pain when eating)?

is it that he won't taste it or does he spit it out?
(maybe it has to do with constituency of the food. My family lets the youngest ones (that have gone past only milk) gnaw on bread when they are teething. They don't actually eat it of course as it is too hard for them, but maybe try it just to see if it interests him?

Yes they checked.
He acts like he doesn't know what to do with it. He just sits there with it in his mouth.

I could try that.

Thank ya!

 

[Angela53510]

You should start with baby rice cereal, which has the least offensive taste (bland) and low allergy rate.

But I wouldn't worry one way or another about it. If he is gaining nicely, then he is ok. But breast milk is lacking in iron, which is why a fortified cereal is best. If he is on a bottle, then formula with iron.

My DIL refused to give her first baby food till he was past 12 months, and he became terribly obese on breast milk, and hungry all the time. She has already started the second baby on food and he is 7 months, so I am happy about that.

Back when my kids were young, we were told to start feeding them food at 3 months, which seems a bit early, in retrospect.

But even if they do force you to put him on a feeding tube it is not all that bad. A friend of mine's daughter had leukemia, and she demanded her daughter go on it. She was wasting away (not like your baby!) but the feeding tube really helped her gain weight and she survived the whole chemo and radiation and everything.

So praying that the docs will listen to you, and your baby will continue to thrive!

 

[atwhatcost]

I need help/advice..

My son, Eli is 9 1/2 months old. (Born 3 1/2 months early).
I've been trying for almost 4 months to get him to eat baby food but I'm having no luck.

I'm very worried and I don't know what else to do.

I've talked to his doctors and they are dead set on giving him a feeding tube because they say his brain bleed caused him to be "retarded" (hate that word and hate that they used it). They also said that because he couldn't sit or rollover. (He can now )

I understand he will be a bit slow because he was born so early. He should only be 6 months old.
But I don't see a need for a feeding tube.

They have been wrong so many times.
Yes I've gotten other opinions. But its like they don't even want to deal with it or try to help. They said I have 3-6 more months before they make their final decision about the feeding tube.

So I'm asking all the mommas and daddy's for help..
Any advice to get him eating would help me more than you'll ever know. I'd really appreciate any advice..

My niece has Rett Syndrome, so eating has been a big problem since she was 6 months old. My SIL used to use baby food with a large eye dropper like device, but in my niece's case it really was that she had trouble first learning how to swallow, and then, later on, she couldn't swallow.She still can't, so she has to use a feeding tube.

I'm not sure what you mean that Eli doesn't eat. I've seen some pretty picky eaters in my lifetime. Parents have different approaches on that one. So, do you mean your son is unable to eat or won't eat?

Have you considered finding places that teach physical therapy? If they don't deal with issues with babies, they'd probably know who you can turn to that does.

 

[atwhatcost]

You should start with baby rice cereal, which has the least offensive taste (bland) and low allergy rate.

But I wouldn't worry one way or another about it. If he is gaining nicely, then he is ok. But breast milk is lacking in iron, which is why a fortified cereal is best. If he is on a bottle, then formula with iron.

My DIL refused to give her first baby food till he was past 12 months, and he became terribly obese on breast milk, and hungry all the time. She has already started the second baby on food and he is 7 months, so I am happy about that.

Back when my kids were young, we were told to start feeding them food at 3 months, which seems a bit early, in retrospect.

But even if they do force you to put him on a feeding tube it is not all that bad. A friend of mine's daughter had leukemia, and she demanded her daughter go on it. She was wasting away (not like your baby!) but the feeding tube really helped her gain weight and she survived the whole chemo and radiation and everything.

So praying that the docs will listen to you, and your baby will continue to thrive!

Warning: iron causes constipation too, so like the mashed banana idea, you'll want to add something good to it, like apple juice, to relieve the constipation effect.

 

[Pres19]

My niece has Rett Syndrome, so eating has been a big problem since she was 6 months old. My SIL used to use baby food with a large eye dropper like device, but in my niece's case it really was that she had trouble first learning how to swallow, and then, later on, she couldn't swallow.She still can't, so she has to use a feeding tube.

I'm not sure what you mean that Eli doesn't eat. I've seen some pretty picky eaters in my lifetime. Parents have different approaches on that one. So, do you mean your son is unable to eat or won't eat?

Have you considered finding places that teach physical therapy? If they don't deal with issues with babies, they'd probably know who you can turn to that does.

When I feed him, he acts like he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't try to chew or swallow his food.

He is in physical therapy and they are going to give some speech therapy to try to help him eat.

Honestly I think he just isn't ready...

But starting tomorrow I'm going to try all the different advice I was given.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

Perhaps you could try oatmeal,rice cereal, pancakes,waffles,eggs, grilled cheese, yogurt,cream cheese,soup, or macaroni and cheese.
At 9 months he should be making a transition to solid food. Best wishes for you and your son and his diet