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Babies Baby dislike solid food My baby is 8 months old. I started him on semi solid food when he was 6 months. I started him on baby cereal with milk and tried to switch him to porridge after a month. But he just refused to eat the porridge. Now I'm giving him baby cereal twice a day (about 3 tablespoons per meal) but sometimes he also refuses to eat. Is there any way I can encourage him to take more solid food or increase his appetite? I'm afraid he may be malnourished just taking milk alone. Thanks.

Answer

Answered by Dr Hon As the growth of babies and children are erratic and not consistent, sometimes they consume less calories per day. Hence the occasional refusal to eat. Baby cereal is sweeter than porridge and your baby has gotten used to the sweet taste. It would be wise to add more vegetables(sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet corn, beans) to make the porridge sweeter or cook the porridge in chicken stock to entice her to eat it. You can also introduce fruits like bananas and papayas.

If her growth is within the acceptable limits and she's taking formula milk she won't become malnourished with just taking milk. Her main nutritional source is still from milk.

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