How long does it usually take for infants to get the "hang" of eating food?

How long does it usually take for infants to get the "hang" of eating food?

by Jennifer Potvin
(The Colony, TX)

My 7 month old just started on solids yesterday, and she automatically pushes everything back out of her mouth! It is a very messy ordeal! I was just curious as to approx. how long it might take for her to get the hang of it, and to actually swallow some food??

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How long does it usually take for infants to get the "hang" of eating food?

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Nov 02, 2009
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A few weeks
by: Heather ;-)

Jennifer,

It's incredibly cute, yet frustrating, when your little one is trying to learn how to eat solids. She's attempting to eat food the way she drinks from a bottle, by using her tongue to push up on the nipple.

It will take her a while to get the hang of it. Keep introducing those well-pureed foods a few times a day. In a few days (or weeks) she'll start figuring it out.

At this point, the food isn't really for nutrition. It's for practice and to introduce her taste buds to the world beyond breastmilk or formula. She should still be getting the breast (or bottle) several times during the day (finish each "meal" with a bottle/breast). That's where the majority of her nutrition will be coming from.

Good luck (and don't forget to take pictures! it's a great age!)

Heather