Baby refusing solids? Why it happens and what helps

First: this is usually normal

When a baby refuses solids, it’s usually a passing phase, not a problem — because until 12 months, breast milk or formula is still a baby’s main source of nutrition, according to the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.¹ Solids are added alongside milk, and they grow into a bigger share of the diet gradually.⁵

In real numbers: the AAP estimates that a baby of 8 to 12 months needs 750 to 900 calories a day, and about 400 to 500 of those still come from breast milk or formula.⁸ So on a day your baby eats three spoonfuls of dinner, milk is doing most of the work.

That’s why the AAP’s first advice is simple. If your baby cries or turns away, don’t make them eat; go back to breast or bottle for a while and try again later.²

Why babies refuse solids

Most refusals have an ordinary cause. These are the usual suspects.

• Teething. Teeth often start coming in around 4 to 7 months. The gums can swell and get tender, and babies may be irritable and want to chew on something hard⁷ — not ideal conditions for a spoon.
• A cold or other illness. A stuffy nose or sore throat can put any of us off food. A fever over 101°F (38.3°C) is probably not from teething, so call your pediatrician if you see one.⁷
• A new texture. Moving from smooth purées to thicker, lumpier food takes practice. The CDC notes that babies may cough, gag or spit up while they adjust.⁶
• Not hungry yet. A big milk feed just before a meal leaves little room. The CDC suggests offering something to eat or drink every 2 to 3 hours, rather than all-day grazing or sipping.⁵
• A food they don’t like (yet). Babies may spit a new food out or refuse to open their mouth after a taste.³ That’s a reaction to this food, today — not a verdict for life.

“All of a sudden” — at 8 months

A sudden change at 8 or 9 months often lines up with a change in what’s on the spoon. Around 8 months is when the AAP suggests moving to foods that are slightly coarser than smooth purées, such as oatmeal, mashed banana, mashed potato or lumpy vegetables.⁸ A pincer grip — picking things up between thumb and finger — usually appears between 9 and 10 months, and that’s when many babies want to feed themselves.³

Some babies who stop opening for the spoon will happily pick up soft finger foods instead. If your baby keeps grabbing the spoon, the AAP suggests giving them their own spoon or a few finger foods to keep them busy.³ Our guide to purées vs baby-led weaning covers both approaches.

How to respond: responsive feeding

Responsive feeding means watching your baby’s cues and letting them lead on how much. Between 6 and 23 months, a baby may be hungry if they reach for or point to food, open their mouth for the spoon, or get excited when they see food. They may be full if they push food away, close their mouth, or turn their head away.⁴

You offer the food. Your baby decides whether to eat it and how much.

The CDC is clear that a baby doesn’t need to finish the jar or the plate, and that food shouldn’t be used as a reward or punishment.⁴ Bribes, games to “sneak in” another bite, and keeping a baby in the chair tend to make the next meal harder, not easier.

What to try

You’ll see slightly different advice on refused foods. The AAP symptom guide suggests waiting a few weeks before offering a refused food again,³ while the Dietary Guidelines stress offering new foods many times.¹ They fit together: pause without a fuss, then keep coming back to it.

Teething and sick days

When your baby is teething or unwell, it’s fine for solids to take a back seat for a few days. Keep up breast milk or formula, offer soft, cool, easy foods, and don’t worry about variety. If gums seem sore, gently rubbing them with a clean finger or offering a firm rubber teething ring can help; the AAP advises against numbing gels and amber necklaces.⁷

Watch fluids more closely than food. Fewer than 6 wet diapers a day is a sign of dehydration in infants and needs a call to the doctor.¹⁰

Won’t eat at daycare

Plenty of babies eat well at home and barely touch lunch at daycare. New faces, noise and a different routine are all distractions. Ask caregivers what was offered and how your baby reacted, and share your baby’s hunger and fullness cues with them.⁴

Sending one or two foods your baby already eats at home can help. Over a whole day — or a whole week — most babies balance out, as long as milk feeds continue.⁵ If you’re unsure how much is enough at this age, see how much solid food a baby should eat.

Don’t skip the textures

It’s tempting to stick with smooth purées if that’s all your baby will take. But texture is a skill babies learn by practicing. In a large UK study, children first given lumpy foods after 9 months ate fewer fruits and vegetables and had more feeding difficulties at age 7 than those who started lumps between 6 and 9 months.⁹ That’s an association, not proof of cause, but it’s a good reason to keep moving forward gently.

Keep safety in mind as textures progress. Cut food into pieces no larger than ½ inch and always supervise meals.¹¹ Gagging is a normal reflex that helps keep food out of the airway.³ Choking is different: a choking baby can’t breathe, cry or make noise, may turn bluish and needs help right away.¹¹

If your baby is past 9 months and still refusing most lumpy foods, raise it with your pediatrician. Our guide to iron-rich foods for babies has soft, easy options to keep offering.

When to talk to your pediatrician

These signs come from the AAP’s solid-food and dehydration guides.³¹⁰⁷ Call 911 if your baby can’t breathe, cry or make noise, or turns blue while eating.¹¹

Common questions