Solid Foods

How to get a 6 month old to enjoy eating solids? That is the question. We started feeding my daughter solid foods around 4 months old. She was taking the rice cereal great at first. We tried a few fruits (pears, bananas, apples) and veggies (peas, sweet potatoes, squash); she would make weird faces and gag at first but then seem to like them. Now, she seems to take the bottle fine for the most part (4-6 oz every 4 hours during the day) but when it comes time to eat the solid foods she flat out refuses. Clamps her mouth shut and will not willingly open for anything. I've tried distracting her by giving her a spoon of her own to play with then shovel a bite in when she goes to chew on the spoon. I've also recently tried helping her to feed herself (with me holding her hand with the spoon and guiding it to her mouth) as she seems to have food envy when she watches my husband, her big sister and I eat. This seemed to work OK but I'm thinking there's got to be an easier way! Any suggestions?