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6 month old baby not swallowing food


What to Do When Baby Won't Eat Solids: 7 Simple Steps

When your baby won’t eat solids, it can be stressful. Learn why your baby is refusing food and how to get them to eat solid foods with 7 simple steps! 

The spoon hits the floor.

Your baby makes a nasty face.

They might even shudder or gag.

All from a bite, or an attempt to feed your baby solid foods. It’s totally unexpected when babies respond with such disdain for baby food or table food. As parents, we’re often excited about this new milestone and it’s shocking when your baby won’t eat solids.

In real life though, it’s quite common for babies to gag on solids, seem uninterested, and outright refuse food.

While knowing it’s “normal” for babies to not seem interested in solid foods, even though everyone else’s baby seems to be gulping it down by the jar full, it still leaves the question, “How do you get a baby to eat solids?”  

Well, I happen to know a thing or two about that. First, because I’ve personally helped a lot of families get their babies eating solids as a pediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience, but also because I’ve been there with my own son…

Going through it as a mom was a whole different ball game.

Of course, I knew that it was normal for babies to refuse baby food when it was first introduced, and I also knew that some babies didn’t much prefer baby food, but my Momma heart was worried. The worrying got worse when I watched my son act like he could’ve cared less about the delicious homemade sweet potatoes that I whipped up, as he turned his face away and threw the spoon across the room.

Meal after meal.

Day after day.

And, week after week.

With each passing day that he refused to eat solids, I got more worried, and more frustrated as I’d watch the food I’d prepared literally go down the drain. There came a point when I knew I needed to do more, to put some of my OT skills to use in my home, and that’s what I’m going to share with you here, because I know how stressful it is when your sweet adorable little baby won’t eat solids.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know :

    • Why your baby is refusing solids
    • Why they used to eat solids, but don’t anymore
    • How to get them to eat solids and table foods
    • Ways to get them more help (if you need it)

*Keep a look out for the free printable at the end too, if your baby is struggling with table foods!

 

Affiliate links used below. See our full disclosure.

 

Why Your Baby Won’t Eat Solids

 

There are a lot of factors that can actually play a role in any baby’s refusal to eat solid food. We’re going to walk through each of them below, but know that the reason your baby isn’t eating solids could be any one or combination of them. With a little detective work, you’ll figure it out!

Also, age has a little do with it, and will help you hone in on what’s going on.

6 or 7 Month Olds That Refuse Solids:

    • Baby isn’t ready yet – 6 months of age is the perfect time to introduce baby to solid foods, but sometimes the baby isn’t ready. Actually, this is really common when the baby is closer to 4 and 5 months old if you’re starting a little earlier, but is still totally normal at 6 months of age.

Babies are still learning how to move their tongue and bring toys to their mouth, which helps them get used to having foreign objects in there. Each baby is unique and yours may just need some practice if they are in this age range.

They also may still be developing good trunk and head control, without it, eating is difficult! 

Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for introducing food and make sure your baby is ready for solids. You can also find my guide to Introducing Solids with more details on milestones to look for when 6 months old.

    • A strong tongue thrust reflex – Most babies usually lose this reflex that helps them not choke if something accidentally gets into their mouth around 4-6 months, but it may linger for some.

If you notice that your baby still thrusts their tongue out every time you touch the spoon to their lips, they may need a little more time. It’s really hard for them to eat when they keep shoving their tongue out of their mouth!

    • Doesn’t like the way food feels – Solid food is something so new and unfamiliar to babies, it can take a while for them to get used to the new texture in their mouth. Many babies do in fact get used to the feeling of solids, but some don’t.

Read more about that below under sensory.

 

8, 9, or 10 Month Olds That Refuse Solids:

    • Sensory – By 8 months of age, most babies are ready from a developmental standpoint, and at this age, it’s definitely time to get the ball rolling, but some babies (like my son) still refuse. One of the most common reasons why older babies still won’t eat solids is because they don’t like the texture.

This boils down to the way their brains are thinking about (or processing) the sensory input they feel (aka the food in their mouth).

This isn’t a bad thing and doesn’t necessarily mean they have any kind of diagnosis, but it does mean we need to take some extra steps to help them tolerate the texture of food better. You can head to sensory issues with food to learn more.

Babies that are sensitive to different textures usually gag immediately at the sight, touch, or taste of food.

    • Coordination – Eating actually requires a lot of muscle coordination from opening the mouth, pulling food off of a spoon, closing the mouth, and effectively swallowing.

We take this for granted and don’t even think about it, but for some babies, it just isn’t coming natural.

Babies that are having difficulty with coordination, or oral motor skills (find exercises with that link,) usually gag when trying to swallow or after getting the food into their mouth.

Or, the food may fall out frequently, and babies won’t eat solids because they just don’t know how. When they don’t know how to eat, it isn’t that fun, and there isn’t a lot of interest.

If gagging is something you’re concerned about or is happening often, read more in guide on baby gagging.

    • Food allergies – Believe it or not, sometimes babies will avoid certain types of foods because they’ve associated an upset tummy with the yogurt or cheese for example. It doesn’t happen all the time, but it’s something to consider, especially when it’s very specific allergenic food.

The most common types of food allergens are dairy, egg, soy, wheat, tree nut, peanut, fish, and shellfish. Severe eczema is another indicator that food allergies might be present. 

Sometimes, signs become more obvious when cow’s milk is introduced.

    • Not into baby food – While this is probably the least likely reason your baby is refusing solids, it is possible.

If you’ve consistently offered baby food or infant cereal with no interest from your baby and you don’t see any of the sensory or coordination signs we talked about above, then you might just might want to move on to table and finger foods.

One way to do that is using a Baby Led Weaning approach, before you do that though read my BLW pros and cons.

 *Get a seat in my free workshop and learn 5 big feeding mistakes that might be stopping your child from learning to eat. We’ll send you a free workbook too!

 

Why Baby Won’t Eat Solids Anymore (They Used to?)

    • Some teething babies won’t eat – While it’s not as common, some babies start off eating baby food and then suddenly stop. A frequent cause of this is teething, and some babies teethe for a very. long. time. If your baby’s teeth are swollen, red, and seem to hurt, then this is likely the cause.

Try putting some teething gel on their gums 15-20 minutes before a meal. If you see an improvement, this is likely the culprit. Here’s a natural teething gel I like, but check with your doctor first.

    • Going through a phase – Babies may get a little bug or slight cold that we aren’t even aware of or have some negative experience with food that seemed too minor to us as the parent, but makes them leery of eating.

If it’s the latter, some sensory sensitivities can develop if a baby goes for a while without eating any food. If this is the case for your baby, you’ll want to follow the steps below and focus on not pressuring your baby to eat. It’s really important that mealtimes are a positive experience.

    • They’ve outgrown baby food – If your baby is later in their 7th month or older, they may just be sick of solid baby food and ready for the real deal table and finger foods. That may mean it’s time to change up baby’s diet!

I know that seems scary and makes some parents nervous. Don’t worry though, if you think this is why your baby suddenly won’t eat solids anymore, then head to how to transition to table foods.

 

 

How to Get Your Baby to Eat Solids

1. The absolute first thing I do with a baby not eating solids is to put a scoop of baby food or some other pureed food like yogurt onto the tray of their high chair.

I know, the mess. It’s soooo important for babies to get messy though! If you’re skeptical, you’ve got to read: Why Babies Should Get Messy Eating. It will totally change your perspective and give you the inspiration to embrace the mess.

2. Encourage your baby to touch the food, but don’t force. Be silly and keep it light. Demonstrate.

If they refuse, try and try again. In fact, at every single meal, put a dollop of that food on their tray or even in a bowl that they can play with and touch. If they won’t touch after a few attempts, offer a spoon for them to stick into the food too.

This is one of my favorite beginner spoons that makes it really easy for baby to get some food onto it.

3. Once your child touches the solid food, you’re on your way! Allow them to touch, spread, and put it all over the tray and themselves. This is wonderful for their sensory processing and will make a huge difference in helping them get used to the texture of solids.

If they get upset once they’ve touched the food, or that they are now all messy, be very calm and reassuring.

Have a wet washcloth ready and quickly wipe them down. And, if this is how they respond, it’s a sign that you need to practice playing with these foods a lot! The more they touch and interact with the food, the closer they’ll be to eating it.

4. When baby has the food on their hand and they’re at least tolerating it, show them how to take their hand to their mouth, so they can taste it. You may need to demonstrate if baby won’t let you guide their hand.

Repeat this several times. After they eat from their hands several times, offer them some solid foods from a spoon.

5. You can also give them a large whole raw carrot or celery stalk at meals. I mean the whole darn thing. The point isn’t for them eat it (and if they can get pieces of it off, take it away), but for them to put it into their mouth.

When they do this, it helps desensitize their gag reflex and they get to practice biting, chewing, and moving their tongue around. It’s amazingly powerful and can make a big impact in a baby accepting solid foods. Make sure you demonstrate and keep offering at every meal.

6. Be consistent and patient. I can’t stress this enough, even though it’s often easier said than done! Have regular meals and follow the above steps 1-3 times a day for every meal. You can find sample schedules for babies ages 6 – 7 months, 8 – 10 months, and 11 -14 months if you’d like a guideline to follow.

7. Focus on meals being positive experiences for the baby, even if they aren’t eating anything. As parents, we can bring a lot of stress with us to meals, which can be hard to hide. But, this is definitely a “fake it til you make it” kind of situation.

Take a deep breath, put on a happy face, and work on the above steps. Going into the meal with no expectations of them eating anything will also help keep your frustration level down.

To learn MORE, grab a seat in my free online workshop.

In it, you’ll learn 5 big feeding mistakes that are stopping your baby or toddler from learning to eat table foods! It’s an eye opener and will help you take steps to give them the best start with eating table foods well (even if it already isn’t going well):

 

Strategies to Use Outside of Meals for Baby’s Refusing Solids

There are a few really powerful strategies you can use away from the highchair that will directly impact your baby eating solids during meals. Might seem strange, but if you suspect your baby is refusing because of sensory or coordination difficulties, doing these activities can be total game changers:

    • Brush their teeth – If you haven’t started yet, brush their teeth, and when you do, make sure you’re getting all over their gums and the sides, as well as the top of their tongue.

It only takes a few seconds, but it helps to both desensitize their mouth and improve coordination because the tongue gets practice moving in different directions. If your baby doesn’t like it, take it slow, and try often.

The more often you brush, the bigger the effect. Try for one to three times a day, and consider a vibrating toothbrush (yes, even for babies) for more powerful input in their mouth.

    • Play in sensory bins – That may be a new term to you or you might be wondering what the heck that has to do with eating, but playing in different textures is super powerful and helps the sensory system understand different textures better.

This correlates directly to eating. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a kiddo that plays in sensory bins frequently, suddenly start eating more foods (my son included). Head to Sensory Bin Ideas to learn how to set one up.

    • Chew on toys – So many babies that won’t eat solids never put toys or teethers in their mouth, which is really easy to overlook. If this is your baby, pull out a bunch of different teethers and have them around the house.

Demonstrate. Dip them in food or juice. Play with them in the bath. The more often they get teethers and toys into their mouths, the more it will help improve the coordination their mouth muscles need to eat and desensitize their gag reflex and sensory system.

I really love this teether because it gets in the back of the mouth and this one vibrates (all my friends get it from me at their baby shower).

 

Help for the Baby Not Eating Food

I’m not just talking about solid baby food or purees. You may have a baby that won’t eat any type of food, like puffs, cut up fruit, or toast. They’re getting older and older. You’re getting worried. 

Following the above steps will be incredibly important for your babies too, especially the strategies for outside of a meal. But, you’ll also want to use the steps I outline in getting your baby to eat table foods.

That’s a whole different animal all within itself, and there are some targeting tips that can make all the difference in your baby eating food.

You’ll want to focus on small pieces, and by 9 months of life be attempting table or finger foods.

While I don’t want you to worry, I know it’s tempting to keep waiting it out, and unfortunately, some doctors advise this quite often. This often does not help your baby to learn to eat wide variety of foods.

Babies instinctively learn to chew between roughly 8 and 11 months of age, when they move past that, it can be much harder for them to accept foods. It’s not impossible, and the same steps apply for older children, but it’s much better to be proactive then taking a “wait and see” approach.

Puffs, lil cheese curls, and baby mum mum’s are all great for baby’s first foods. 

 

When to Get More Help for a Baby Not Eating Solids

If your baby doesn’t like solid baby food and won’t accept any table foods of finger foods by 9 months old, it’s a good idea to get an evaluation either from the free early intervention program in your state or from a feeding therapist.

You can also read more about typical feeding milestones for babies just to have a reference point. As I said earlier, all babies develop at a different pace and needing a little more help is very common.

 

Get My Free Printable: Learn to Eat Table Foods Cheat Sheet

There seem to be more questions than answers when you’re under the daily stress of your baby or toddler not eating table foods. Not to mention all of the well-intentioned bad advice that’s often given. Let’s clear that up.

I’ve created a free 5 page guide that clearly lists the steps to teach your baby or toddler to eat table or finger foods, plus a FAQ guide for parents to ease their worries when their babies won’t eat!

Get your free Learn to Eat Table Food Cheat Sheet printable here!

 

More on My Baby Won’t Eat Solids

 

How to Teach Your Baby to Self-Feed

Mega List of Table Food Ideas

How to Teach Your Baby to Drink from a Straw

The Best Mealtime Utensils and Tools for Babies

 

Click here to Pin This! (You’ll have as a quick reference)

 

 

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 17 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.

7 Month Old Feeding Schedule with Free Printable

Get a printable 6 month old feeding schedule with helpful tips to use and adjust for your baby through the end of their 7th month. And, grab some bonus feeding tips that will help you safely and confidently feed your baby!

 

 

Affiliate links are used below. See our full disclosure.

 

I know how fast the first year goes as a mother of three, but I am still in disbelief that my baby just turned 8 months! Feeding each of my three babies have been completely different experiences, as they are all unique little beings. James (the 8-month old) is loving meal times and is quite an eater, for now anyways.

I think part of his success in eating has been due to the 6 month feeding schedule I’ve had him on since he started traditional home-made baby food at 5.5 months. Read about how I, as a licensed occupational therapist, introduced baby food for the first time if you’re looking for some tips and tricks. 

*These 6 and 7 month old feeding schedules are also the ones I’ve recommended to the families I work with as a licensed occupational therapist that specializes in feeding babies and children.

As we begin this 8th month, I can see our schedule evolving, and I thought it might be helpful if I shared how I created his feeding schedule for 6 months old through 7 months old.

During these last two months, I’ve reflected a lot on how much James is benefiting from slipping into an already very established eating routine (there are some benefits to being the third child!).

Whether it is your first, second, or even third child, it can be challenging to make this transition from just bottle feedings to breast or bottle feedings AND baby food especially because every child is different. 

In my experience, parents often have a lot of questions about how to set up these routines. While I think there is value in that, this schedule is not a hard and fast rule for every baby. 

We all know that every baby is unique, but as parents, it’s hard not to compare. Try to avoid playing the comparison game with these feeding milestones, as long as you’re giving lots of positive opportunities for interactions with food.

I should also note that James is breastfed, and only takes an occasional bottle when I’m away from the house (find help for getting a breastfed baby to take a bottle). However, he doesn’t eat frequently like some nursing babies do. If your baby has lots of mini meals, this 6 month old eating schedule may look a little different. 

It’s meant to be a guideline to starting a flexible routine that you can tailor to your own needs. This schedule is great for bottle babies, too!

And, if you’re starting to think about those table foods and what ages specifically you can start giving them to your baby, then check out When Can Babies Eat Cheerios?

*Times are given in a range of possible start times, not duration. Also, you’ll find some links throughout the schedule for my favorite cups and foods. 

6:30-7:00 AM: Wake-Up – Breastfed or bottle upon waking

(This is one of my favorite bottles for breastfed babies)

7:30-8:00 AM: Breakfast – Water available in a sippy cup, about 1/4 cup of various homemade/store bought baby food, and a meltable crunchy food like puffs and/or soft cubed food (see note below).

(These are a great  first sippy cup)

9:00 AM: Nap

11:00 AM: Breastfed/Bottle

(One of my picks for bottle fed babies. Keep in mind your baby might be ready for faster flow nipples at this age, as well.)

12:00 PM: Lunch – Water available in a sippy cup, meltable crunchy foods like rice husks. (I don’t look for James to consume much here and don’t offer baby food, but I like him sitting with us and “snacking” a little so that he can get used to the schedule he ultimately will have.)

1:00-2:00 PM: Nap

4:00-4:30 PM: Breastfed/Bottle

5:30-6:00 PM: Dinner – Water available in a sippy cup, about 1/4 cup of various homemade/store bought baby food, and a meltable crunchy food like these wafers and/or soft cubed foods (see note below).

7:00-7:30 PM: Breastfed/Bottle

7:30-8:00 PM: Sleeping for the night

 

Where to Feed Your 6 and 7 Months Old

My son is sitting in a Tripp Trapp chair, which I love because he’s pulled up to the table eating with the rest of us without a tray. The majority of the time it works out that he is able to eat at the same time as the rest of us. 

However, the Tripp Trapp is an investment, a more budget friendly high chair is this one from Ikea, but be sure to add a foot rest for stability so that baby is in a good position to eat well. Check out why seating positioning matters when it comes to eating with this article.

 

How to Give 6 and 7 Month Olds Water to Drink

Most babies will be drinking water during their meal from a sippy cup until around 9 months. This is one of my favorite sippy cups to start with. 

James started drinking from a sippy around 7 months old, and at that time, I switched him to a straw cup at meals (learning to drink from a straw at this age is very early though, most babies learn around 9 months old). 

A sippy cup is perfectly appropriate for this age, but look for your baby to be using a straw by one year old. When you’re ready, learn how to teach your child to drink from a straw here.  

Now is also a great time to begin offering small sips of water from an open cup- with your help, of course, unless you want mealtime and bath time to happen at the same time. Here is an open cup you can try that is perfect for small hands.

 

When to Feed Your 6-7 Month Old

You will see that many people recommend 1-2 feedings a day at this age, and that is totally fine. While there were a few times we couldn’t squeeze in two meals on a busy day, I made it a priority to do two meals a day from the time he turned 6 months. 

This consistent exposure was very beneficial, and I think is best for most babies. It can seem like a pain at times, but it is worth it if you can make it work.

As mentioned above, if your baby prefers many small breastfeeding sessions a day, that is okay and this schedule can still work for you.

Try to focus your schedule and routine around opportunities for baby to join you for meals at the table with solids and water in a cup, not so much on when they are nursing or taking a bottle.  

The goal over time is to offer meals and snacks in a predictable consistent routine. You know your baby best, so definitely continue to breastfeed flexibly at 6 and 7 months, and use this guide to help make it work for your unique situation.

Take note of how well your baby eats in relation to how tired he is, how much time he has had to play, and when he had his last milk feeding. 

You may want to adjust your times based on his hunger cues and energy levels. Even adjusting times by 10 or 15 minutes can make a big difference on how much your baby wants to engage with food at meals!

Set your expectations low, and focus on a pleasant experience during meals, not volume of food. It is completely normal to have a meal where your baby only has a few bites. This is NOT his main source of nutrition right now.

 

6 – 7 Month Feeding Schedule Tips

Babies learn so much about eating by watching us, and has been wonderful to watch how he loves being part of this family time, even at such a young age.  

He gets excited to come to the table when everyone is there and will actually fuss if he sees everyone at the table without him! 

In the 6 month eating schedule above you read to include “meltable crunchy” foods. Wondering what those are? They’re all of those first table foods you find in the baby food aisle like Biter Biscuits, Puffs, Rice Husks, buttery soft Crackers, etc.

A good rule of thumb is seeing if the food easily breaks down when wet or crushed. In the beginning of the 6th month, you are going to just let them mouth on some of these meltable crunchy foods, and help them put small pieces into their mouth. 

Watch them closely, but keep in mind some gagging is normal. If this feels too soon for you to introduce “real” foods, you can wait 1-2 months, but want to begin around 8 months.

By the end of the 7th month, they will likely be feeding themselves some easy to pick up pieces of the dry food and chewing them a variety of these well.  

Once they are eating these well, they can begin to have soft pieces of foods cut into cubes like ripe bananas, cooked zucchini, and banana bread. Anything that is very easily mashed between your finger and thumb is likely safe for baby to eat by this stage, even without teeth. 

See my post on transitioning your baby to table foods for more details.

As your baby eats it’s important to allow them to get messy. Don’t worry about wiping their face off until they’re finished eating. Strip your baby down to his diaper or plan a bath for after meals. See more on why it’s important for babies to get messy!

While this is a time to just explore foods, if your baby is underweight and you’re trying to beef up the calories you’re giving them, then check out these high calorie baby food combinations and some extra tips to maximize what your baby is eating.

These months are very important for establishing good eating skills, and can go a long way in how your child eats throughout childhood. This feeding schedule for 6 and 7 month olds, and all the tips you’ve read are a fantastic foundation for continued happy eating.

However, if your baby is stressed at mealtimes or is rarely consuming any food during meals by the end of the 7th month, then I would discuss your concerns with your doctor, and consider setting up a feeding evaluation through early intervention (free if you are in the states) or with an occupational therapist or speech therapist through feeding therapy. 

Don’t panic if you see some of these challenges with eating, it’s more common than you think.

Some babies just need a little extra help, and that help can make a world of difference and really ward off major picky eating problems in the future.

You can also check out Feeding Red Flags, which will help you pinpoint if there’s a problem, or if your baby is gagging a lot, head to the baby gagging guide for tips on moving past it.

 

Get a PDF of the 6 Month Feeding Schedule!

Want a printable of this schedule? You got it… just click here and you can download and print this schedule for a quick reference.

 

More Baby Feeding Schedules and Tips

 

Feeding Schedule for 8, 9, and 10 Month Olds

Feeding Schedule for 11-14 Month Olds

Mega List of Table Foods for Your Baby

Teach Your Child to Self Feed

 

Did you pin this?

You’re going to want to save this, you can get to all the other feeding schedules here as your baby continues to grow!

 

 

Alisha Grogan is a licensed occupational therapist and founder of Your Kid’s Table. She has over 18 years experience with expertise in sensory processing and feeding development in babies, toddlers, and children. Alisha also has 3 boys of her own at home. Learn more about her here.

 

 

What to do if the child does not want to chew - "Healthy Child's Internet Cabinet"

Home - Healthy Child Cabinet - Related Articles - Nutrition - What to do if the child does not want to chew

Ufimtseva Olesya Borisovna

Social teacher of the consultative and health department of the City Center for Medical Prevention

Transferring a child from ready-made formulas and breast milk to adult food is a problem for many parents, since the baby cannot learn to chew food, is naughty, refuses new foods, and spits out what he cannot swallow without chewing. The transition to more solid foods that must be chewed in order to be eaten is a natural physiological process associated with the development of various body systems. The digestive system gradually gets used to the digestion of solid food. The demand for nutrients is growing. A variety of "adult" foods can satisfy her. If a child does not learn to eat normally, then the nutrition of all tissues of his body will be disrupted. This affects his physical and intellectual development. If there is still a problem with chewing, then do not panic. Some special tips will help teach your baby to chew pieces of food. nine0003

Dr. E.O. Komarovsky gives the following simple advice to parents who are faced with the unwillingness of the baby to chew food:

  • To teach your child to chew both soft foods and hard pieces, you need to gradually add dishes with larger food particles to the meal. For example, soft bread can be gradually added to the soup so that the child can feel the pieces of food on the tongue. You can give the baby a boiled carrot: it is convenient to hold it and it is interesting to pull it into the mouth. In order for the baby to learn to chew food, you need to give him a tasty and beautiful cookie or a piece of sweet fruit that he likes. A bagel will do. Some parents give children as early as the age of 5-6 months drying or baby biscuits. At this age, as a rule, there are no teeth yet, but the child works on drying, because he feels a pleasant taste. He soaks it in his mouth, bites off small pieces with his gums, learns to chew and swallow them. Drying should be given not so much for saturation, but for the development of the chewing reflex. Then, when the first teeth appear, it will be more difficult for the baby to get used to such a useful and tasty toy. It is uncomfortable for him to bite with his gums, and there are still few teeth. Of course, you need to carefully monitor so that the baby does not choke. nine0014
  • Mom and dad do not have to immediately agree with the stubborn demand of the crumbs to give him the usual pureed food. Parents should show artistry, portray regret that, for example, the blender is broken. In extreme cases, you can give the baby a fork so that he mashes the pieces of potatoes. He will surely like it, although the lack of skill may lead to the fact that half of the puree will be on the floor, but the next time the child will demand just such “interesting” food, stuffing it into his mouth (the fork must be special - plastic, with blunt teeth) . nine0014
  • If a child does not chew, but tries to lick and suck an apple or a biscuit, he does not need to rush to rub this very apple on a grater or soak the biscuits in milk. Give him solid food more often, if the number of teeth allows, let him train.
  • If a child refuses to chew, swallow, or pick up a spoon, E.O. Komarovsky advises to reconsider the diet. It is likely that the baby simply does not have time to get really hungry. This happens in families where the crumbs are given to eat “when the time has come”, and not when he himself asks for food. Overfeeding is not only the reason for the unwillingness of the baby to take part in the process itself, it can trigger the mechanisms of a variety of diseases. Therefore, overfeeding is more harmful than underfeeding. nine0014

Dear parents, be patient with your children and love them with all your heart. Only then will they develop according to all age norms!

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Infant Reflux: Symptoms and Treatment

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Signs and what to do


Post-feed regurgitation is a common occurrence in the first few months of life. This is usually harmless and completely normal, but parents should read about gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in infants and how long it lasts to give them peace of mind.

We look at signs of reflux in babies, symptoms of different types of reflux, and how to help a child with signs of reflux. If you require further information, always contact your healthcare provider. nine0003

What is reflux in babies?


So we know reflux is common, but what causes reflux in babies? Because young children have not yet fully developed the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that is, the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that opens and closes to let food into the stomach and keep it there, food can easily pass back up the esophagus.


Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is a normal reflux that occurs in babies. This type of reflux is considered normal and occurs in 40-65% of babies. nine0003

How do I know if my child has acid (gastroesophageal) reflux?


If a baby is spitting up milk after a feed, it is most likely acid reflux. As babies get older, GER usually goes away on its own without any intervention. If a baby has complications beyond just spitting up a small amount of milk (such as feeding difficulties and discomfort), they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). nine0045

Symptoms of GERD include:

  • baby arching during or after feeding;
  • crying more than three hours a day for no apparent reason;
  • cough;
  • gag reflex or difficulty swallowing;
  • irritability, restlessness after eating;
  • eating little or not eating;
  • poor weight gain or loss;
  • difficult breathing;
  • severe or frequent vomiting. nine0045

GERD usually occurs when LES muscles are not toned in time, causing stomach contents to back up into the esophagus.

How do I know if my child has Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?


Another type of reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also called silent reflux, is when the contents of the baby's stomach leak back into the larynx, the back of the nasopharynx. This type of reflux does not always cause external symptoms, which is why it is called "silent". Babies can have GERD and silent reflux at the same time, but their symptoms are somewhat different. nine0045

Some of the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux are listed below:

  • trouble breathing;
  • gag reflex;
  • chronic cough;
  • swallowing problems;
  • hoarseness;
  • regurgitation;
  • poor weight gain or weight loss.

We have looked at the signs of reflux in infants, now we will move on to the treatment and duration of silent reflux in children, as well as the treatment of GERD. nine0003

How to deal with laryngopharyngeal reflux in babies while breastfeeding?


Breastfeeding mothers may need to review their diet if their babies show signs of reflux. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfeeding mothers cut eggs and milk from their diet for two to four weeks to see if their baby's reflux symptoms improve or disappear. It may be worth eliminating acidic foods from your diet. nine0045

In most cases, GER and laryngopharyngeal reflux go away on their own. Typically, children outgrow reflux in the first year of life. If a child has persistent symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux, parents should consult a doctor. If your baby has severe vomiting, blood in the stool, or any of the symptoms of GERD listed above, parents should contact their pediatrician as soon as possible.

How can I help my child with reflux or GERD? nine0034


Reflux symptoms in infants usually go away on their own, but the following tips may help relieve symptoms:

  1. Thicken food with rice or a special milk thickener.
  2. Hold the bottle at an angle that fills the nipple completely with milk to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows. This can help prevent colic, gas, and reflux.
  3. Try the AirFree anti-colic bottle, designed to reduce air swallowing during feeding. nine0014

4. Let your baby burp during and after feeding. If the baby is bottle fed, parents can let him burp after every 30-60 ml. If the mother is breastfeeding, she may let the baby burp when changing breasts.

5. Hold baby upright after feeding. As a rule, in order for the milk to remain in the stomach, after feeding the baby, it is necessary to hold it in an upright position for 10-15 minutes. But, if the child has reflux, parents should keep him upright a little longer. nine0003


These tips may help relieve symptoms, but they do not replace a doctor's advice.


Parents should not change their infant formula without first talking to their doctor.


Don't panic! Reflux is very common in babies during the first three months of life, and most babies outgrow it without any consequences. Although GERD is a slightly more serious condition, there are many treatments, ways to manage it, and help newborns. Feel free to contact your doctor with any questions or concerns you may have.

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