What & how is 5-month old eating?

[Squiggy]

I'm upset that my baby turned 5-months old yesterday and still isn't holding his bottle yet - is this normal?
I'm practicing with him by holding his hands on the bottle, but sometimes he gets aggravated with me. It's a very slow process.

Also, my mom (who was the mother of an infant 36 years ago) insists baby should be learning cereal, solids, and juices by now. But he can't even hold his bottle yet!!!

I tried carrots already, he screamed almost the entire time but he would take it off the spoon and swallow it, he didn't spit it back out, he actually seemed to enjoy it but still seemed very upset about it too.

I tried single grain rice cereal a few times but feeding him liquid from a spoon and bowl is very difficult! I know they say not to introduce cereal in a bottle but honestly until it's a spoon-worthy consistency I don't see doing the whole liquid on a spoon thing; it's just a huge mess. He's more interested in chewing on and grabbing the side of the bowl!

I know rule #1 is to know your baby. And in knowing my baby I feel he wasn't quite ready when I tried. He's a little more ready now. But at the same time he's still not really interested.

Please tell me what your 5-month old was/is eating and if he/she was holding a bottle by that age.

 

[seaweed eater]

Why the hurry for him to hold his bottle? I don't understand why that's a precursor to eating other food. And I don't think it's at all uncommon for 5-month-olds not to be able to do it. He'll learn eventually -- you don't even have to work with him on it.

It is ok (IMO) to introduce solids at 5 months, but it's definitely not necessary if your baby isn't ready yet. If he's getting upset when you try, then I would stop. You never want to force children to eat (even when they're older). Juice is not important ever, at any age, except for treating constipation.

 

[whistle]

My first was mainly breastfed with some bottles. I held his bottle for him till he stopped using one at about a year. I feel it's ok for milk feeds to be a snuggly time where adult and baby sit together so if it's a stress to teach him to hold the bottle then I personally wouldn't worry about it. He started holding his own sippy cup a lot later than 5 months, but I can't remember when!

If you feel he is not ready for solids and purées are awkward you could wait a few weeks and start him on soft, whole family foods that are easy to handle. The purées hark back to when babies were weaned earlier, but in the uk for example we are advised to wean at 6 months. At 6 months a baby doesn't need purée, they can explore foods for themselves - Baby Led Weaning is a great book, but you can google it too and get loads of info.

For ourselves we are not exactly going to do BLW in that they advise never to feed your child with a spoon, but last time we fed our son for things like yogurts, curry sauces and soups, and we probably will this time. But the principle is the same - just let them eat 'normal' family food.

I completely agree that you know your own baby, I think that's the best rule to follow!

 

[MommyJogger]

My first was mainly breastfed with some bottles. I held his bottle for him till he stopped using one at about a year. I feel it's ok for milk feeds to be a snuggly time where adult and baby sit together so if it's a stress to teach him to hold the bottle then I personally wouldn't worry about it. He started holding his own sippy cup a lot later than 5 months, but I can't remember when!

If you feel he is not ready for solids and purées are awkward you could wait a few weeks and start him on soft, whole family foods that are easy to handle. The purées hark back to when babies were weaned earlier, but in the uk for example we are advised to wean at 6 months. At 6 months a baby doesn't need purée, they can explore foods for themselves - Baby Led Weaning is a great book, but you can google it too and get loads of info.

For ourselves we are not exactly going to do BLW in that they advise never to feed your child with a spoon, but last time we fed our son for things like yogurts, curry sauces and soups, and we probably will this time. But the principle is the same - just let them eat 'normal' family food.

I completely agree that you know your own baby, I think that's the best rule to follow!

I just wanted to help avoid possible confusion and point out that 'wean' here means "to begin solids" and not "to stop milk feeds". The definitions differ in the US and UK, but I know a lot of women who come to bf support group having read a UK site that says the advice is to "wean" at 6 months and not understanding that what they read is the UK term.
I agree, holding a bottle is not a milestone that they need to meet and many babies will never hold their own bottles because they prefer (and deserve, if they prefer it) the intimacy and bonding of having a caregiver feed and cuddle them.

 

[whistle]

My first was mainly breastfed with some bottles. I held his bottle for him till he stopped using one at about a year. I feel it's ok for milk feeds to be a snuggly time where adult and baby sit together so if it's a stress to teach him to hold the bottle then I personally wouldn't worry about it. He started holding his own sippy cup a lot later than 5 months, but I can't remember when!

If you feel he is not ready for solids and purées are awkward you could wait a few weeks and start him on soft, whole family foods that are easy to handle. The purées hark back to when babies were weaned earlier, but in the uk for example we are advised to wean at 6 months. At 6 months a baby doesn't need purée, they can explore foods for themselves - Baby Led Weaning is a great book, but you can google it too and get loads of info.

For ourselves we are not exactly going to do BLW in that they advise never to feed your child with a spoon, but last time we fed our son for things like yogurts, curry sauces and soups, and we probably will this time. But the principle is the same - just let them eat 'normal' family food.

I completely agree that you know your own baby, I think that's the best rule to follow!

I just wanted to help avoid possible confusion and point out that 'wean' here means "to begin solids" and not "to stop milk feeds". The definitions differ in the US and UK, but I know a lot of women who come to bf support group having read a UK site that says the advice is to "wean" at 6 months and not understanding that what they read is the UK term.
I agree, holding a bottle is not a milestone that they need to meet and many babies will never hold their own bottles because they prefer (and deserve, if they prefer it) the intimacy and bonding of having a caregiver feed and cuddle them.

Oh yes - solids alongside plenty of milk. Solid food is for fun till age one. Didn't know that difference, thanks.

 

[lewood88]

Dont rush it, i started weaning dd2 at 5 months because shes a really hungry babie and hungry milk isnt satifiying her anymore otherwise i would have left it a month, and as for holding bottles shes doesnt hold one dd1 didnt hold a bottle till she was 9 months old and i didnt worry, its all changed now with weaning and not bein horrible but mothers opinions isnt always the best there old school

 

[Seity]

Neither of mine have ever held a bottle. Both were combo fed until 6 months. No solids until then and then we did BLW. No need to ever give yucky baby rice cereal or purees unless I wanted.
Also when you do introduce food as a supplement to their milk, it starts out at only 1-2 tbsp a day.

 

[kirstybumx3]

Rio is 7 months and shows no interest in holding his bottle. I don't mind though he's getting too independent I like that time we spend close when feeding. He has finger foods. Not holding bottle doesn't mean he won't hold food x

 

[special_kala]

R didnt hold a bottle until well over a year old. Its not exactly a milestone.

 

[felix555]

OP I am intrigued as to why you would think this is a problem? (the not holding a bottle thing)

 

[Nela]

Take the pressure off yourself and off kiddo. There's no rush, no need to hurry to do these things. Things will come on their own time. Kiddo will hold the bottle when he wants. Maybe the shape of the bottle itself is not very handy for him? Maybe he just doesn't want to do it yet. As for the food, same thing. There's no need to rush for him to eat. Trying to make him eat when he's not 100% ready will only stress you both out and make it a frustrating experience. When you do start out, I suggest taking the approach of the baby led weaning method (if you don't actually want to do BLW) and just let it be fun. Even if you go with puree, you can stick it in a bowl and plop a spoon in it in front of him. Just let him explore it. Let him stick his hands in it, play with the spoon, etc. even if he doesn't actually properly eat it, he'll get curious. He'll probably get some on his fingers and then just end up with his fingers in his mouth and finally get a taste. It's messy, I won't lie, so you can put a tablecloth under the high chair but seriously, the mess is less of a hassle than you stressing over it. All in good time, it'll all fall into place. Trust your instincts and trust what kiddo tells you.

 

[maybebaby3]

My eldest never held his bottle til he was about 1. I wouldn't expect a 5m old to hold his bottle for an entire feed. This skill is unrelated to being ready for solids.