Feeding

“ Dear Helen, I have a 10-month-old boy. He is cheerful and progressing nicely. Since I did not have enough of my milk at the start, I fed him with other milk, as well. After the third month, I no longer had milk, so he was using adapted milk. That was his favorite food, but since last Sunday he’s been refusing it. He hardly drinks 30-80 ml of milk. He eats other food without any problems. Helen, do I have a reason to be worried?”

Dear mom,

Good job for trying to breastfeed for at least a couple of months ! If I understood correctly, your baby was drinking adapted milk formula which he is now refusing.

Try another producer or regular cow’s milk. If he refuses that as well, there is still no reason to worry. Try to mix it with baby porridge, whisk it in pudding, boiled semolina, rice pudding, etc.

I also recommend that you use yogurt, kefir and other dairy products.

Also, it could happen that a baby refuses adapted milk formula for one period of time, and then begin to eat it again later.

You should occasionally try again, because you never know when he might pleasantly surprise you.

“ Dear Harper family, my baby is eating very poorly. The pediatrician told me that, since he is six months old, he can and should already start chewing solid food. But whenever I give him anything that has been squashed with a fork and not with a blender, he starts choking. He also has a very poor appetite. What should I do? Thank you in advance for your help. ”

Dear Mom,

Your pediatrician is right because a 6-month-old baby should eat solid food.

I understand your concern since this is your first baby, so you have no experience, but what is more important is what you do have – patience and will.

Place your baby in the semi-sitting position, place a smaller number of small solids (pieces of zucchini, polenta, bananas) in the blended food, and feed your baby with a scoop that will initially have just one or two pieces of small solids.

If your baby starts choking a bit, do not be afraid, you are there for her/him.

Lean him/her forward and use a small spoon to remove the piece of food.

Immediately afterwards, soothe your baby (talk to and smile at them) and then continue to feed them.

During the next meals and days, gradually reduce the amount of blended food in favor of the pieces of solids.

You will succeed, I believe in you!

As far as appetite is concerned, we are all different and if your baby is adequately gaining weight, you have no reason for concern.

Dear Harper family, my baby is 6 months old and still hasn’t started eating solid foods. However, even the thought of solids makes me insanely afraid. I’m afraid that he will choke. Even when he chokes on my milk, I get overwhelmed because I don’t know how to react. I think my constant fear is not realistic, but I cannot resist the terrible concern that torments me. How can I stop worrying?   

Dear mom,

While feeding your baby, make sure it is in a semi-sitting position.

If the baby starts choking, gently pull the food out of the mouth with a spoon or your fingers.

After doing so, calm your baby down, give them some water or tea.

If it seems as though he has choked a bit more, that is if he coughs, quickly tilt him forward, remove the food pieces again and then calm him down.