just given my 5mth old first spoon of food - just keeps falling out again - is this normal?

[lucylala]

i realise I should know this as I have a 3yr old but can't remember anything about weaning!

Anyway, gave 5mth old his first spoon of puree today, he seemed quite intersted in it, smacking lips together, sticking tongue out but the food just kept falling back out. He has NO idea what he's supposed to do with the whole swallowing thing.

Is this normal for first time?

We've decided to start weaning cos he's been a great sleeper since 7wks and suddenly in last 4/5 days has started waking up every 2 hours in night to guzzle down an 8oz bottle and go back to sleep - so am pretty sure he's ready.

[emkana]

I think this is the tongue thrust reflex, and it means that he's not ready yet, sorry!

[ELR]

cant remember either but thinik its pretty normal its when they clamp lips together you should worry!!

[whomovedmychocolate]

The sticking tongue out thing sounds like the ejection reflex - designed to stop babies ingesting bad things - a foreign object enters the mouth, the tongue reflexively pushes it out again. I would stop and try again in a few weeks.

He may well be teething rather than hungry you know?

[bobsmum]

Agree - it's the tongue thrust. He'll be ready when that goes - usually at around 6 months when he'll be sitting unaided and able to digest food better. All the best

[ELR]

emkana is right it is called tongue thrust reflex

[MrsBadger]

agree with the tongue thrust thing
the hungry night waking sounds like a growth spurt, so he probably needs more easy calories (ie milk) not exciting new experiences (ie solid food).