Solid food and 6.5 mo baby

[bunny85]

Hi,

My baby boy is nearly 7 mo (in a week), and we started solid food at 6 months. He's been EBF all this time, and is a big boy (on 91st centile). However, I'm a bit confused about his food intake - I'm a FTM and have no experience in this. He seems to eat very little and never too keen (reluctantly opens his mouth while moving about in his high chair, looking everywhere else but at food, playing etc), then slowly chews and spits out some of it. He probably really swallows a teaspoon of food per feeding, if that. I offer him solids before boob (he won't even look at food after he's had milk), about twice a day (not sure if I should offer more often/at different time?). I cook everything from scratch for him and try to offer meat/fish/veg/fruit etc but he's never too keen. Maybe he doesn't find it tasty enough? Because when he sees us eating, he's very interested and always tries to grab whatever's on the plate (not appropriate for him though, too much salt etc). I worry about his iron intake. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

[HopperBusTicket]

I'm no expert but I've got two children and we did baby led weaning with them both and I'd say that's pretty normal for the early days. Lots of food falling / being spat out of mouths and then eventually more often being successfully chewed and swallowed. Our youngest is 9.5 months now and eating more but a lot still ends up on the floor. It's a new skill and they're learning.

[HopperBusTicket]

If he likes what's on your plate then perhaps make sure you cook without salt etc so he can try it. We generally all eat the same and adults add salt at the table if we want it.

[RatOnnaStick]

It's quite normal with BLW for them to just play with it for a couple of months. Lots of babies (including my first) don't really get the hang of eating til around 9-10 months and that's fine because, of course, the milk is what should be sustaining them for now.

Just give them a bit of this and that to play with while you're eating. If you change your eating habits a bit to reduce the salt content he can happily steal from your plate if he wants (and it's much nicer to cook just once for everyone too).

[MyBreadIsEggy]

My DD pretty much just played with her food at that age - swallowed very small amounts of it.
I cooked one meal for everyone and she happily chomped away on most of it, and just gradually started properly eating it. She's 13mo now and eats everything me and DH have.

[Nan0second]

Yes it sounds like he just wants to feed himself and be like you. The baby led weaning cookbook may help you feel more confident about this.
DD was like this - never wanted to be spoon fed but was eating masses within a fortnight of blw. (Plus breast milk obviously)

[bunny85]

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses.

Our weaning started with BLW, I gave him pieces of fruit and veg and he held them and fed himself. However, I'm on my own during the day with him, my husband is at work, and I must admit I get very scared with him gagging. He gags lots. He once even got a bit pale (maybe my imagination?!). I know if I'm with someone, I do get reassured and not nearly as panicky as on my own. So I decided to try spoon feeding. I now feel like I should make a definite decision, one way or another, and I feel that BLW is better for him, at least that's what he seems to enjoy more, however I don't know how to overcome my fear...

I wonder if I could still try BLW again despite a week or so of spoon feeding, or will it make him confused?

[Nan0second]

Definitely try again. Gagging is normal. Disgusting but normal! Watch YouTube videos to know how to deal with choking so that in the rare event of a problem, you would know what to do. My experience is that my DD gagged quite a bit to start with but always just moved the food forward by herself. She learned really quickly! Good luck! Be brave

[Buttwing]

You don't have to chose one or the other just try him with finger food and if he prefers that go with it. I did a mixture of both with my 4dc some were quicker than others to "get" food. I know it's hard but try not to worry he will get there eventually.

[Caterina99]

We just did a mix. I'm in the US and BLW is not really a thing (at least not round here). Gave him mushed up things on a spoon to attempt to actually get some food in, and then finger food for him to eat himself. DS way preferred the finger food so we do more of that, but he still gets spoon fed porridge, yoghurt, mashed potato and other things like that.

[HopperBusTicket]

We spoon feed things that I would eat with a spoon - cereal, yoghurt etc. I don't think they get confused although may prefer one or the other. I was more strictly finger-foods only with my eldest and it was quite clear when he started nursery that they were spoon feeding him as he started sitting in his high chair with his mouth open like a baby bird!

Yes gagging is normal. I must be hard as nails because it's never really bothered me. But I know it makes my mum and sister very jumpy. I think it would definitely help you if you knew what to do if he did choke (even though that is very unlikely).

[bunny85]

This morning he gagged so much he threw up all the previous milk feed which went all over the table and floor all he hardly ever throws up milk. Eh, looks like I'll need plenty of patience and most importantly a pair of balls